WHAT IS ABI?
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a broad term used to indicate that a person has experienced a brain injury after childhood. The term ABI does not include degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease. ABI does include brain damage as a result of traumatic brain injury, stroke, metabolic disturbance, infection, hypoxia, substance abuse, blood loss, electrical injuries, etc.
STAGES OF TREATMENT
The first stage of treatment for ABI often involves acute medical care. The acute phase of treatment can include the emergency room, surgery, intensive care and stabilization on medical floors.
The second stage of treatment for ABI may occur in acute rehabilitation settings. The purpose of acute rehabilitation is to prepare an individual with ABI to go back into the community.
The third stage of treatment for ABI is post-acute. Post-acute rehabilitation focuses on the long-term needs of people with ABI in order to maximize their potential to function in the community in a self-reliant fashion. There are currently few community-based post-acute programs in existence.
MYTHS ABOUT ABI REHAB
There are many
myths in the field of rehabilitation for acquired brain injury.
MYTH: No progress is possible
after the first year to two years after a brain injury. Research has shown that people with ABI can significantly
improve their functioning 20 to 30 years post injury.
MYTH: A person with ABI must accept their limitations. If a person comes to view themselves as limited then they will not put effort into their rehabilitation. The key is to accept the challenge of moving forward in a step by step fashion and working with caregivers to see what can be accomplished.
MYTH: Personality changes after a brain injury. Although there is some controversy, leading clinicians point out that behavioral changes after a brain injury often involve a person’s emotional reaction to awareness of their deficits. The emotional changes after a brain injury over time are the most debilitating.
MYTH: Psychotherapy does not work for people with ABI. Because emotional changes after brain injury are the most debilitating in the long run, psychotherapy with a specialist with training in rehab and neuropsychology can often be effective.
THE RENEW ABI PROGRAM
Based on best practices. The RENEW ABI program is based on the most recent scientific findings with regard to providing the kind of setting in which the brain can maximize its potential to recover function.
Ecologically valid treatment. Most traditional rehabilitation programs are based on a training model which attempts to generalize progress from the rehab center to the world. This approach does not work. RENEW is committed to the finding that rehabilitation works best when it occurs in natural life settings.
Emphasis on socialization. Many individuals with ABI withdraw and become passive and isolated after their injury. RENEW ‘s program is based on findings that active involvement and interaction with others actually provides an enriched environment which maximizes neuroplasticity and recovery from brain injury.
Professional leadership with expertise. The program is lead by a doctoral-level psychologist, Michael Harvey, Psy.D. with years of training and experience in working with individuals with ABI. Specialty areas include rehabilitation psychology, health and family psychology, neuropsychological evaluation, assessment of emotional functioning after ABI, the provision of individual, group and family therapy, and treatment planning. Dr. Harvey has presented on ABI at state, national and international conferences.