Brain Injury Lawyer - New York

Concussions complicated by post traumatic stress disorder and depression

A new study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine links the persistent problems following a concussion to the development of post traumatic stress disorder and depression.

According to a summary of the study reported in today's New York Times, the new report finds that soldiers who had concussions were more likely than those with other injuries to report a variety of symptoms in their first months back home, including headaches, poor sleep and balance problems. But they were also at higher risk for the stress disorder, known as PTSD, and that accounted for most of the difference in complaints. Symptoms of the disorder include irritability, sleep problems and flashbacks.

You can read the full Times story by clicking here.

80 percent of prisoner's found to have sustained brain injury

A fascinating story appears on the AP wire service today concerning a survey done of prisoner's by the Wyoming Brain Injury Association.  The Wyoming Brain Injury Association found that more than 80 percent of the state's inmates have a mild to high likelihood of having suffered brain injury.

The association worked with the Wyoming Department of Corrections to survey a sample population of 200 offenders in the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk.

The survey did not actually medically diagnose people with brain injuries but asked them a series of questions about their injuries, hospital stays and difficulties with daily life to determine the possibility of injury.

Considering the behavioral affects of brain damage, the fact that most prisoner's sustained a brain injury some time in their lives is no surprise to me.  Hopefully prisoner's who have sustained a brain injury will be identified so that they can obtain proper cognitive support and rehabilitation.  At the present time their is apparently no screening in place to determine mild and moderate brain damage in prisoner's. 

The Wyoming Brain Injury Association has also offered to institute support groups for brain injured prisoners and to provide educational assistance to correction department officials about traumatic brain injury.

You can read the full AP story by clicking here.

Brain Injury Association Legal Conference

I am pleased to have been selected to speak at the Brain Injury Association of America's legal conference to be held in Las Vegas, Nevado from April 3-April 4, 2008. The conference is entitled: Brain Injury Litigation Strategies 2008--Mastering the Science and Trial Strategies.  Some of the best brain injury attorneys in the country will be present at this conference. 

This will be a unique conference made up of both plaintiff's and defense attorneys designed to bring both sides together for an intelligent discussion and understanding of traumatic brain injury.

As a frequent speaker at brain injury legal conference's, I am extremely pleased to have been selected from attorney's throughout the country to speak at this meeting.  My topic will be: "turning defense tactics at trial to the plaintiff's advantage"

My presentation will focus on many of the "dirty" tricks utilized by insurance company lawyers in the courtroom that are designed to pursuade the jury that persons who have sustained brain injury really aren't injured or really did not sustain a brain damage at all.  I have confronted these tactics in the past and have been able to effectively deal with them. 

More information about this conference can be obtained from the Brain Injury Association of America web site.

Depression Following Concussion

Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University have identified the neurological basis of depression in male athletes with persisting post-concussion symptoms. The study, published in this week's issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, has important clinical implications for the treatment of individuals who have suffered a cerebral concussion.

Although neuropsychological testing in these individuals was reported to be normal, many of these athletes reported significant symptoms of depression.  The researchers utilized funtional MRI studies which showed reduced brain activity in areas of the brain that are seen in patients suffering from major depression.

GW Graduate Program in Acquired Brain Injury Tuition Assistance Announced

The George Washington University (GW) Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education (DTPSE) has announced that they have received a Personnel Training Grant from the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the “Master’s of Education Degree (MA) in Transition Special Education: Emphasis in Acquired Brain Injury.”

The grant will provide tuition support (80%) for all accepted students and also includes direct stipends to assist students with class related expenses, travel for internships, and travel to professional conferences.  The grant also supports the training of teachers for initial licensure with a specialization in serving students with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and includes a combination of on-campus and distance education coursework.  A specialized brain injury internship and a one semester student teaching experience are also required.

Applications are currently being accepted for Spring 2008 Semester and Summer 2008 Semester.

For further information, you can contact Zavolia Willis (Zee)  or at 202-973-1082.

For more information about the Graduate Certificate Program in Brain Injury, inquiries may be directed to Monija Amani or 202- 973-1032.

For information for applying to either of these programs, you can visit the Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) web site

Full Military Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force Report

My earlier post today concerned the Military Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force Report.

The full report can be read by clicking here.

Army Study Reports One In Five Brain Injuries Go Unrecognized

In a study released yesterday, the Army has confirmed that Up to 20 percent of U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan may have suffered mild concussions but were unaware of them and did not get treatment.

The study reports that the Army has a hard time identifying and treating affected troops because the soldiers and Marines don't recognize the symptoms and don't report them.

"The Army is challenged to understand, diagnose and treat military personnel who suffer with mild TBI," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw, who leads the Army's TBI task force.

In addition to recognizing the common symptoms of a concussion such as headaches, dizziness, sleep disorders, nausea or memory problems, the Army is now alerting soldiers and their families to the psychological consequences of closed head injury such as irritability, anxiety and depression.

The earlier that these soldiers recognize and report their symptoms, the earlier that they can get treatment.  Just as important, soldiers who are still on active duty need to know that these symptoms are important to report so that they are not exposed to a second head injury before they fully recover from the initial injury they received.

 

Brain Injury Webcast: "Veterans with TBI"

A web cast which will  provide an overview of the Veterans Health System and address the structure and services available for veterans with TBI and their families by the  Program Manage of the Department Veterans Affairs will take place on Friday, February 1, 2008, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm  "Veterans with TBI - The Veterans Health System." 

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, this Web cast will be useful as a first step in understanding the VA system.  As service members with TBI are identified in State and community systems, it will provide an idea on where to refer them so that appropriate benefits are received.  Ideas for outreach and potential partnerships might also be a potential outcome.

The web-cast REQUIRES PRIOR on-line registration to ensure that your computer meets all technical requirements.  To register click here   You should register well in advance of February 1st to resolve any potential technical issues before the web-cast.  Should you experience any technical difficulties while registering, please submit a question to them by clicking here .   On February 1st, be sure to use the same computer to view the Web cast that you used to register. Connect 20 minutes in advance of the web-cast to ensure your connection and to download the Power Point slides.

For anyone who can't be present for the February 1st web-cast, there will be an archived copy available about one week after the event by clicking here .

Rehabilitation Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

The hardships, frustrations and rewards associated with rehabilitation following a severe traumatic brain injury are discussed in an article in today's New York Times, Coaching the Comeback.

The article describes rehabilitation efforts at Keller Institute of Rehabilitation in New Jersey and the difficulties and rewards of this work intensive and heart breaking endeavor.  The dedication of professionals involved in the rehabilitation of survivor's of a traumatic brain injury should never be forgotten. They deserve our thanks.  They also deserve salaries that reflect their skills and efforts.

Insurance carriers need to be compelled to provide reimbursement for these essential services without arbitrary limits on the number of days that a person is entitled to services, the types of services that an individual can receive or ignorant assertions that they have reached maximum levels of improvement.

Long Island Brain Injury Symposium

The Brain Injury Association of New York State is holding a symposium for brain injury professionals, survivors, families, caregivers and community advocates hosted by Transitions of Long Island.

The symposium is scheduled for Saturday March 8, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Rust Auditorium, North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Scheduled topics include: New Technologies, Maintaining Health and Wellness, Work Integration, Special Issues faced by Men and Women, the TBI Medicaid Waiver Program, Guardianship and Trust Issues.

For further information e mail Dr. Deborah Benson