February 23, 2009, 10:38 am

New Resource for our Military Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

A new 24-hour/ 365 day a year outreach center now provides information and referrals to military service members, veterans and their families and others with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injury. Staff at the new outreach center can be contacted by phone at 866-966-1020 and by email a resources@dcoeoutreach.org.

The center is equipped to deal with routine requests for information, as well as fielding questions about symptoms, and even assistance in finding appropriate health care resources. The staff at the Center includes health resource consultants, and nurses, most with master’s degrees.

“Active duty service members must have a referral from their primary care manager for behavioral health care before calling the managed care support contractor appointment assistance line. The regional toll-free numbers are: West Region, 1-866-651- 4970; North Region, 1-877-747-9579; and in the South Region the number is 1-877-298-3514. Hours vary according to region.”

Click here to read the full article

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February 11, 2009, 3:29 pm

Brain Injury results in Musical Talent?

Derek Amato says that a hit on the head turned him into a musical wonder. After hitting his head in October 2006 he found that he could play any music that he heard. He says it came as a surprise one day while he was at a friend’s house. He sat down at the piano – just planning on messing around, and found out that he could indeed play.
Since discovering this talent he has quit his corporate job to work as a recording artist. He says, “I like to think of it as a gift”.
While some are quite skeptical of this brain injury turned positive, Dr. Gerald McIntosh says that while he’s never heard of anything like this happening, it is possible.

Click here to read the original article

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, 8:41 am

The Feeling Brain

The University at Buffalo has recently received a grant to study an under-reported aspect of brain injury: the emotional life of survivors.

According to the article, researchers have determined that many people with brain injury have difficulty interpreting the emotions of others. It’s a problem that, in theory, can be addressed through cognitive therapy.

Additionally, some survivors have a hard time experiencing certain emotions, and may have to “relearn” them in some fashion.

Click here to read more.

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February 4, 2009, 10:51 am

Over 1,000 Football Related Deaths Since 1933

The National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research isn’t a well known organization, but I thought it might be a good idea to pay it some attention in light of the recent news about NFL players suffering concussion. According to them, there have been over a thousand football-related deaths since 1933. I took a look at their brain injury data, but felt that it was too broad to warrant any clinical significance. As with military TBIs, the right data just isn’t available.

So what can be done? Football players need to ask what actions the NFL is taking TODAY for brain injury prevention.
They should demand screening, training, and supportive measures in the event a brain injury is detected.

For those of us with loved ones who play football, we need to make sure they know the basics about prevention. One of the best tools available is the CDC’s coach’s kit at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/coaches_tool_kit.htm

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