title: The trauma of spinal cord injury on the adolescent.
abstract: Very simply, a traumatic lesion to the spinal cord results in motor paralysis and loss of sensation below the level of the lesion. The previous description omits a myriad of serious and related consequences experienced by the spinal cord injury (SCI) victim. This injury leaves anyone, young or old, devastated, but especially the adolescent who has not yet developed a solid feeling for who he is. The injury interrupts not only his physical development, but emotional development as well, giving the adolescent few resources to fall back on. Therefore, during his hospitalization it is of major importance that the adolescent receive rehabilitation services that address not only the common problems of the injury and its consequences, but also the adolescent's developmental needs as well. This paper deals with the common problems of spinal cord injury which generally are intensified in the adolescent and also highlights those aspects of adolescence which are especially victimized by such an injury. It also makes some suggestions for occupational therapy approaches and programming.
authors: Practicing Therapist, Rehabilitation Institute of Oregon Outpatient Program, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center, Portland, OR.
authors: N L
authors: NL
authors: Grossenbacher