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 is a Brain Injury PDF

Community Resources & Services

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

Download the Checklist

Interpreting Screener Results

Understanding the Screener & Results Brain Injury Severity & Type First, Multiple, & Recent Injury

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

Brain Injury Severity

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) severity can be classified by the amount of time a person has lost consciousness (if at all). Not all people lose consciousness or they may not be able to recall. If the person indicated they have lost consciousness (Question 1a), the respective answer could indicate likely brain injury severity:

Less than 30 minutes > Mild TBI/Concussion Likely
30 minutes - 24 hours > Moderate TBI Likely
More than 24 hours > Severe TBI Likely

Type of Brain Injury

Not all injuries result from a blow to the head, causing a TBI. Non-traumatic Brain Injuries can result in similar challenges, occurring from internal forces causing injury (such as a lack of oxygen, swelling, or excess bleeding).

If selected yes for Questions 3 and/or 4, they may be at risk for Non-Traumatic Acquired Brain Injury:

choked/strangled
overdose
other sources

First, Multiple, & Recent Injury

First Injury

Having an injury before the age of 15 (Questions 1b & 2a) could put a person at risk, including history of trouble with mental health, substance use, homelessness, court systems, criminal justice, or violence.

Multiple Injuries

If the person has had 2 or more TBIs close together (within days or weeks), the brain doesn't have enough time to heal before getting injured again. The screener asks about the estimated number of injuries (Questions 1 & 2).

If it is more than one, the person may be at risk for more severe effects, longer recovery periods, or it could put them at risk for catastrophic consequences

Recent Injuries

If a person sustained a mild TBI in recent weeks or a more severe TBI in recent months, they could be at risk or need extra recovery supports.

If occurred within one year, the person may be at risk for current symptoms such as:

headaches
dizziness
poor attention or concentration
overstimulation
memory lapses
fluctuating emotion
trouble sleeping or feeling tired
other

Learn More

Strategies & Accommodating Brain Injury

Services for Brain Injury

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