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| 7.3b
Sources of information |
Pathways
through the health system
A person with
a TBI can take a number of pathways through the health
system, depending on the severity of their injury.
The information
sources available will vary depending on the pathways through the
system.
Information sources
Information sources
you can use to assess a person's rehabilitation history include:
Agency
Reports: (obtain copies from family, hospitals, legal
representatives)
- Discharge
summaries can be obtained from acute hospitals or
rehabilitation services, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, private
rehabilitation providers.
- Neurophychological
reports Done by neuropsychologists or clinical psychologists
usually focus on changes to cognitive function. Some assessments include
I.Q. score, usually not that helpful.
- Rehabilitation/medical
reports Done by rehabilitation specialists,
physiotherapy, speech pathology, social work, rehabilitation
counsellors
- Other
therapist reports These include occupational therapy,
physiotherapy, speech pathology, social work, and rehabilitation
counsellors
reports.
Self
Report:
- Pre-morbid
functioning vs. current status
It is important to get an idea of a person’s ability before
the injury and compare that with current functioning. Otherwise
it
is possible to make any number or erroneous conclusions about the
impact of the TBI.
- Verbal
vs functional ability Some people are verbally
articulate. But still have significant problems at a practical
level that may be
identified in an interview.
- Difficulties
with insight After a brain injury, some people have
reduced awareness about their needs, and may not fully understand
the level support being provided by key people in their lives
Family
Report:
- Impact
on the family Families are often a key support
for people with TBI. Information from families
can provide valuable
additional information in making an assessment.
-
Under re-action vs over-reaction
Family members sometimes minimize or over emphasize the disabilities
of their relative.
Others:
- Other people
may have valuable additional information. This may include agency
/ staff / friends/ employers,etc. The more sources of information
accessed, the better the quality of the assessment.
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