The many ways traumatic brain injuries affect workers

If you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while on the job, your life could change in many different ways. The more severe the injury was, the more post-injury problems and complications you could face.

Sometimes, these consequences mean that there is no path back to work for the injured employee. Below are some examples of damage that could prevent your working again:

• Fine motor skill losses

• Paralysis

• Uncontrolled movement of the body

• Spasticity

• Inability to swallow, talk or walk

• Visual difficulties

• Inability to pick up, carry or move objects

• Loss of sense of touch

• Challenges with making or maintaining social relationships

• Memory lapses, losses and not being able to retain new information

As one could imagine, any of the above (and others not listed) could take a wage-earner permanently out of the labor market after suffering from a moderate or severe TBI.

Coping strategies can help in some cases

If there is one rule about TBIs, it’s that no two cases are ever the same. Some TBIs that initially appear too severe for any meaningful recovery can indeed be ameliorated by help from the health care team of experts. Other individuals might be able to transition to less demanding employment positions with the assistance of a job coach. Using assistive devices like wheelchairs can also open employment doors to some TBI patients.

What happens when gainful employment is no longer possible?

No matter how hard some TBI patients try, they will never be able to work again. When that is the case, any settlement or judgment should reflect the status of their future economic situations and cover their lack of earning power.