More TBI info

In my continuing quest to gain recognition and understanding of TBI here is another illustration of problems survivors of Traumatic brain injuries have. This is pretty similar to the issues I have had. One thing I'd like to call your attention to is the part where J.B. would start odd and intrusive conversations that people would have a hard time escaping from. There is something many of us survivors exude that makes others uncomfortable. It's often hard to put your finger on it but you sense that something is "just not right" about the individual. I'm quite sure that I have had this effect on others who haven't taken the time to know me or understand. It leads to folks distancing themselves, which I don't mind nearly as much as the judgment and gossip we experienced in some quarters. How precious is the love and understanding we found at First Baptist Church in Midland after experiencing something much different at another place.

J.B., a 38-year-old male, had a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree in social sciences from a community college. He presented with moderate cognitive impairments at one month post-TBI sustained in an auto accident. He was discharged from sub-acute rehabilitation with a referral to outpatient treatment.

Considered within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, J.B.'s major impairments were in working memory, declarative learning, and executive function (including emerging awareness of deficits and insufficient control of both behavior and attention to meet the demands of his prior workplace). Positive environmental factors included an employer willing to give J.B. a try at his old job, as long as the employer didn't have to create necessary modifications herself, and three hours per day of job coaching through the Department of Vocational Services. Positive personal factors included his motivation to return to work, outgoing personality, interest in social interactions, and physical mobility.

J.B. worked as the assistant manager of a dairy department in a grocery store. His responsibilities included checking and stocking shelves, creating a list of orders each day, monitoring expiration dates on products, and interacting with customers to find specific items.

His first day back at work was a disaster. He lost track of his place when stocking shelves, having been distracted by the background noise of customers moving about and talking. Customers complained that he started odd and intrusive conversations, and they had difficulty breaking away to continue shopping. He couldn't remember the locations of all of the products, which change periodically as new products are introduced, and couldn't help a customer find goat cheese; he then became frustrated and lost his temper. His boss was shocked at his difficulty at work, as the accident did not change J.B.'s appearance and he had no medical or physical needs. The job coach completed a detailed work assessment and asked for help in coming up with strategies for J.B. to be successful in this position.

You can read the full article at http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2008/080715/f080715a.htm
My car in the junk yard after the wreck that put me in a coma.