icommunicate Guide Adult Information Acquired Difficulties Brain Injury Attention
| Attention Skills after a Traumatic Brain Injury |
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We are all equipped with a very complex and dynamic system of attention. These skills allow us to go through life attending to the things that are important and blocking out those stimuli that are not important. Our attention skills allow us to do more than one thing at a time, or switch between 2 different activities. These skills are often compromised after an acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI) or head injury. Following a brain injury, the ability to concentrate for more than short lengths of time may be compromised, and trying to maintain attention will quickly become tiring. Attention skills are closely associated with other skills that can also be affected by a TBI such as memory and planning skills. Attention skills are important because we need them to carry out most daily tasks and to communicate effectively. Individuals with a brain injury and reduced attention skills can put themselves in danger when they participate in certain tasks such as driving. There are different types of attention skills:
Difficulties with attention have effects on communication and day to day tasks such as driving and cooking. Individuals with attention difficulties can put themselves in danger if they undertake tasks such as driving, especially if they are also suffering from fatigue. Attention will also affect communication skills because an individual with brain injury will have difficulty attending to conversations and processing information.
For more information, strategies, books and resources relating to traumatic brain injury and communication, visit our online Resource Centre.
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