Specialist Services for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

What is an ABI?

An ABI is an injury to the brain which results in the deterioration of cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functions. It can be caused by trauma (include road accidents or fights), hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain associated with unsuccessful suicide attempts and overdose), infection, tumour, substance abuse and degenerative neurological diseases.

Some common difficulties are;
• Thinking or planning ahead
• Putting plans in action
• Learning from mistakes
• Thinking through consequences
• Seeing other points of view
• Becoming angry or aggressive quickly
• Saying or doing things without thinking
• Limited self awareness and insight

“…They tell me that I have to go to this place and that place and that I have to be there at this time and that time on this day and that day… But when I get out of the office I can’t remember what they said to me.”
~ Jim (a 43 year old man with a 20 year history of heroin use, and numerous overdoses)

Many people with an ABI are still undiagnosed.

Checklist for ABI risk:

Does the client use any drug/s (or a combination of drugs) daily?

Has the client used these drugs for longer than 10 years

Has the client experienced significant periods of unconsciousness?

Has the client sustained any injuries or trauma’s to the head (ie car accidents, fights, periods of overdose or passing out)

Does the client experience difficulties with any of the following?

- Solving problems
- Learning from mistakes
- Short term memory (remembering appointments etc)
- Learning new information
- Planning and organization
- Seeing the consequences of their behavior (insight)
- Being flexible in their thinking (tendency towards rigid, concrete thinking)
- Easily Frustrated with tasks involving complex thinking

(checklist compiled using ARBIAS recommendations)

Referrals

Please don't hesitate to contact us at Ax Consultants

if you would like to arrange a preliminary assessment and/or referral to a Neuropsychologist or for counselling tailored specifically to the clients ABI.