Efficacy of rehabilitation for functional skills more than 10 years after extremely severe brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether gains in personal independence can be achieved in individuals 10 or more years after very severe acquired brain injury.


METHODS
Four individuals in a continuing (slow stream) rehabilitation centre were assessed by an occupational therapist (OT) and programmes were designed to help the individual enhance personal independence. Support staff were trained to implement these programmes under the guidance of the OT. Methods described by Giles, Ridley, Dill, and Frye (1997) were used. Pre- and post-training measures were taken as well as follow up measures to assess the durability of such changes.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve clinically significant improvements in personal independence many years after very severe acquired brain injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that personally and clinically significant goals can be achieved 10 or more years after brain injury and there should be continuing effort to improve the circumstances of individuals with acquired brain injury. Such gains can be achieved through consistent application of such programmes by support workers working under the supervision of an occupational therapist.
Parish
Liz
L
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, UK.
Oddy
Michael
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational