Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Factsheet (for Schools)

What Teachers Should Know

A severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain caused by an injury that changes the way the brain normally works. Concussions are sometimes called mild TBIs, and most have a temporary effect on brain function. Severe TBIs usually have longer-lasting effects.

Severe TBIs can cause temporary or permanent impairments in:

memory and attention
coordination, balance, and mobility
language and communication skills
hearing, vision, touch, smell, and taste
emotions, resulting in depression, anxiety, aggression, poor impulse control, and personality changes

Severe TBIs can affect all aspects of students' lives, including:

relationships with family, friends, classmates, and teachers
how they learn and participate in classroom and extracurricular activities

Students with TBI may:

have short- and long-term memory loss
need frequent breaks due to inability to concentrate for long periods of time
require seating accommodations or assistive devices in the classroom
need help and/or extra time getting to other classes
struggle with writing, reading, and other academic tasks they used to be able to do
have seizures or other neurological changes
seem depressed, anxious, or show aggressive or inappropriate behaviors
miss classroom time for medical appointments and to visit the school nurse for medicine
benefit from individualized education programs (IEPs) or 504 education plans
need extra time to complete homework and assignments

What Teachers Can Do

The effects of a TBI vary from person to person. Speak with your student's parents or guardians, the school counselor or psychologist, and special education staff to find ways to customize your instruction.

Students with TBIs often face a long-term healing process. To help students with problems related to concentration, organization, and memory, you can: