Often students return to school with subtle cognitive, academic, or behavioral needs following concussion. If these are addressed early on it can alleviate long-term difficulties. Here are guidelines for when a student returns to school after a concussion or mild brain injury.
Inform school staff
Learn basic information about concussion/mild brain injury.
Watch for any of the possible red flags associated with concussion/mild brain injury.
Cognitive difficulties compared to pre-injury performance:
- Trouble paying attention
- Difficulty remaining on task
- Slowed responses and or processing of information
- Difficulty shifting attention from task to task
- Organization challenges
- Reduced academic performance
Social behavior difficulties compared to pre-injury:
- Impulsive behaviors
- Initiation difficulties (trouble starting things)
- Changes in mood
- Blurred vision
- Changes in taste or smell
If red flags appear, teachers can provide minimal accommodations on a temporary basis until symptoms subside (usually within 3-4 weeks). Accommodations might include:
- Reduced assignment load
- Increased time to complete assignments or exams
- Use of an organizer to track assignments
- Rest periods during the day
- Directions in both oral and written formats
- Clear expectations
- Large tasks broken into smaller components
If the student continues to have academic difficulty after a month, the student’s concerns should be further evaluated by a team and the evaluation process for more formalized support such as a 504 plan or IEP begun.
Communicate with the family
Stay in regular communication about changes noticed at school and at home.
For more information or assistance about concussion/brain injury, contact Pat Sublette at 541-346-0597 or the Oregon TBI Consulting Team.
This information was adapted from Ylvisaker, M., Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, 2nd ed. Pages 381-384.
From The Teaching Research Institute-Eugene. Reprinted with permission.