Brain Injury Screening Next Steps

We all have stumbles, accidents, or close calls. For some, these are more than fleeting moments and leave lingering challenges. The brain is an important part of your body, sending stop and go signals, acting like an airport hub to the rest of the body. It allows you to think, feel, move, see, and everything in between. People can live months or years without a proper diagnosis of brain injury, accepting their daily struggles as normal even though they feel anything but "normal." It can be a scary process to understand what a brain injury positive screening or diagnosis means for you. You might not know what to expect in the future, and the even scarier part – what to do now?

What Now Checklist

First: Gather

Provide a copy of the screening and/or interpretation to the individual for their records

Determine current or possible insurance, funding, or other payment sources (including help applying for Medicaid or connecting to Medicaid Management)

Help obtain any accident or medical records related to any injuries to assist with diagnosis and service connection

Second: Refer

Identify and/or refer to a medical professional (such as a family physician) for additional assessment

Give a list of local resources specific to brain injury, refer for resource facilitation/guidance or case management

Provide educational materials for further learning about what having a brain injury means

Third: Connect

Contact the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina: (919) 833-9634 or bianc@bianc.net

Investigate local or online support groups to help the person feel like part of a community

Help determine strategies or accommodations that would serve the individual better and lead to better success

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Interpreting Screener Results

Understanding the Screener & Results

Note that this is not a positive diagnosis, but can help you in seeking appropriate services and supports.

For accurate information and assessment, seek clinical evaluation from a medical professional.

Brain injury can be a temporary or long-lasting condition. Because symptoms are not easily seen on the outside, some people do not realize they've had an injury that impacted the brain.

Many people push through or attribute them to other physical, mental, or behavioral health conditions other than the instance of injury.

When this occurs, appropriate treatment and symptom management is being missed. The result is significant overlap with mental health, substance abuse, unemployment, corrections involvement, and homelessness.

You are not alone and there are supports, strategies, and solutions to make this next phase of your life the best one yet.

Brain Injury Severity & Type
First, Multiple, & Recent Injury

Strategies & Accommodating Brain Injury

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Accommodations Guide

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Hope & Healing Guide

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Taking on Independence Toolkit

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Brain Injury Care Binder

Services for Brain Injury

View our Resource Guide and Support Group Listing for services available near you.

For information about the Medicaid TBI Waiver, visit:

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Additional Resources & Learning

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View our Learning Library filled with educational handouts, online courses, and webinars to learn more about brain injury.