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A brain injury can be devastating for the person affected and their loved ones.

Whether you are the person with the acquired brain injury or caring for someone who is affected, the information under this section of the website will be useful at different times during the recovery process.

The information in the sections listed below will help you to know what to expect and/or help you find resources.

We recommend reading these sections as they become relevant to you.

  • About Brain Injury
  • Measuring Injury and Recovery
  • About Rehabilitation
  • Finding Publicly Funded Services
  • Concussions
  • Supporting Your Family Member
  • Managing Your Stress
  • Finding a Lawyer
  • Finding a Private Health Care Provider

This section was revised in collaboration with people with lived experience. We are grateful for their time and enthusiasm to improve the experience for others.

About Brain Injury

More than 40,000 Ontarians experience a brain injury each year. Almost half a million live with an acquired brain injury (ABI). 1

A brain injury can affect how someone moves, speaks, thinks and acts. Some changes may be temporary, while some may be permanent. This can cause a lot of stress and frustration during recovery.

Additional resource: Making the Visible Invisible is a special storytellers series created by Brain Canada Foundation featuring the lived experiences of nine brain injury survivors.

1 Ontario Brain Injury Association. (2021). Brain Injury Information. https://obia.ca/resources/brain-injury-information/

Measuring Injury and Recovery

It often takes some time to determine how serious the brain injury is. Each injury is different depending on where the brain is injured, how much of the brain is injured and the amount of swelling that occurs.

Tests like CT Scans and EEGs (electroencephalograms) tell the doctors about the damage to the brain. But tests alone can’t tell you about long-term recovery.

Sometimes doctors determine the severity of a brain injury by using a measurement called the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) together with the length of time a patient experiences “post-traumatic amnesia.”

Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is a state of acute confusion caused by cognitive impairment (i.e., problems with perception, thinking, remembering and/or concentration). During this stage, patients often cannot concentrate long enough to capture anything in their memory.

Brain Injury Severity

 

Initial Glasgow Coma Scale

Duration of post-traumatic amnesia

Mild

12 – 15

less than 24 hours

Moderate

9 – 11

1 – 7 days

Severe

3 – 8

1 – 4 weeks

Very severe

—

more than 4 weeks

Source: The Medical Journal of Australia

Tracking Recovery

People recovering from a brain injury go through stages.

How much and how fast a person recovers is affected by many things, including:

  • type and severity of the injury
  • length of coma
  • other injuries/complications
  • age and general health.


In general, the more serious the injury and the longer the period of unconsciousness—the longer the rehabilitation and the higher chance that some disability will remain.

About Rehabilitation

After a brain injury, people can go through a number of different stages of medical treatment and care.

If the person requires hospitalization after a brain injury they will be admitted to an acute care or community hospital where the doctors take care of the urgent medical issues, and the person begins the rehabilitation process.

Some people will be discharged relatively quickly from hospital. Others will need to participate in a rehabilitation program before they are able to go home. Some will continue rehabilitation after they return home.

It’s important to remember that rehabilitation is a process and is not the same for everyone.

The most common places someone receives rehabilitation are:

  • In hospital – for people who are patients in a community, acute teaching or rehabilitation hospital.
  • Outpatient (also known as Day Hospital or Ambulatory Care) – for people who can travel to the hospital for each rehabilitation session.
  • Home/community – for people who can travel to a community-based clinic to receive their rehabilitation. Or, the rehabilitation professional comes to the person’s home, usually because the person cannot travel.

 

As a person with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) moves through the recovery process, their health care team will “make a referral” to the type of rehabilitation they need. In the Greater Toronto Area, Global Health Partners Network coordinates referrals to all publicly funded and non publicly funded services so that the process is smooth and efficient.

If you have any questions about what resources are available or appropriate, you can speak to one of our care coordinators at: 416-859-4400.

 

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth (e.g., as a result of a fall, sports injury, motor vehicle accident, etc.). This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging brain cells resulting in chemical changes in the brain. Concussions may also be referred to as “mild” traumatic brain injuries because they are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious.

What is a Concussion? – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov

Some people experience a brief loss of consciousness (not exceeding 30 minutes) while others do not but may feel dazed, in a fog or confused. Concussions can rarely be detected on standard diagnostic imaging tests, such as CT scans.

Source: Guidelines for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury & Persistent Symptoms, Third Edition, For Adults (18+ years of age) – Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

 

Supporting Someone with a Brain Injury

Recovery from a brain injury can be a long and challenging process. If someone you know has a brain injury, you can play an important role in their recovery by learning more about brain injuries and how to support them.

Recommended resources:

Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) Resources

  • Caregiving After Brain Injury – Includes information about the levels of recovery and how you can support your loved one. There are six modules that provide education and guidance for family members and caregivers.
    • If you need home support contact one of our Care Coordinators to schedule an assessment of your needs at,
  • HELPLINE – If you are supporting someone after a brain injury, it’s important to look after yourself too. For help or support, call the HELPLINE at 1-800-263-5404  
    • Calls answered Mon – Fri from 9:30am to 4pm EST (closed on statutory holidays)

 

Managing Your Stress

Brain Injury does not just affect a person. It affects everyone around them. Supporting someone who is recovering from brain injury can be very stressful and demanding.

A few basic facts you should know about stress:

  • You are not immune to stress. Everyone is affected by stress. With your family member’s injury and added responsibilities, you may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of stress.
  • The effects of stress add up over time. You may not feel “all that bothered” by what has happened. You may feel that you “can handle things OK.” Know that stress weakens your ability to handle new challenges. Without breaks, you run the risk of emotional collapse.
  • Many people don’t realize how much stress they have faced and are facing. Lack of recognizing comes from a focus on doing things and “trying not to think about what’s happening.”

What Is Stress?

Think of stress as “carrying a stuffed backpack up a big mountain.” Climbing the first hundred feet, your pack may not seem heavy at all. Though you don’t add anything to the pack as you climb, the pack seems heavier and heavier as you climb higher without resting.

For most people, stress is a feeling or thought that you must do something. In general, the amount of stress you feel relates to several factors:

  • How much you have to do and the number of people telling you to do it. The more you must do and the greater number of people telling you to do it, the more stress you will feel.
  • The difficulty level of tasks. The harder and more challenging the tasks you have to do, the more stress you will feel.
  • Your beliefs about the consequences of failure. The worse you think the consequences will be, the greater the amount of stress that you will feel.


What are the major dangers of stress?

  • Reduced quality of life
    Feeling stressed is very unpleasant. You may end up feeling hopeless and feeling that you have no control over your life.
  • Reduced productivity
    High levels of stress will make your work seem harder. You will become less productive and you will be less able to help others.
  • Impaired health
    As you become less productive, the risk of health-related problems increases. Sleep problems, headaches, fatigue and even memory problems are common. Preoccupied with all you have to do, you may find yourself driving dangerously, or eating too much or not at all.
  • Reduced motivation
    Feeling like you don’t have the energy or the will to try.
  • Harming your relationships
    Support from other people will help you do much better. Yet, your relationships are easily damaged by how you act when you are stressed. Irritability, impatience, losing your temper and being aggressive are common reactions to stress. Some people stop communicating and withdraw from others. They stop talking, go in a room and close the door.


What is the first step in controlling stress?

Recognizing the amount of stress you are facing. When faced with many responsibilities, you may only think about:

  • How much you have to do
  • How little time you have
  • The bad things that will happen if you don’t finish.

Check your pressure gauge often, especially when you have a lot on your “to do” list. At least several times a day, ask yourself, “How much stress am I feeling right now?”

You can also ask your family and friends to give you feedback about how you are handling stress and where your stress is coming from. By monitoring stress levels, you can better control your feelings, actions, efficiency and quality of life.

Finding A Qualified Trauma Lawyer

The HealthNow Concussion Program provides unbiased personal injury lawyer profiles so that you find and compare services.

If you have a brain injury as a result of a car crash, your car insurance policy may cover additional benefits that could help you in your recovery. This could include paying for private medical, rehabilitation and personal care that the public health care system does not provide.

The insurance system can be confusing. We recommend that you hire a lawyer with expertise in this area (personal injury) to help you and your family.

Choosing a personal injury lawyer is an important decision. His/her work can affect whether you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

This tips sheet can help you identify qualified trauma lawyers best suited to help you and your family.

Choose a lawyer that specializes in personal injury law

Personal injury law and the motor vehicle insurance system can be complex and challenging. A lawyer that specializes in this area will have a better understanding of these issues.

Ask for recommendations

If you know a lawyer, ask him/her to recommend a personal injury lawyer. Ask friends or family members if they have worked with this kind of lawyer before. You can also ask other people that work in the personal injury industry (e.g., case managers) for suggestions.

Talk to several firms before you decide

You should talk to at least three law firms to find out about their personal injury services. This will help you compare services. It will also help you to choose a law firm that you are comfortable with and that will do a good job representing your case. Most personal injury lawyers provide the first visit free of charge and will come to your home or hospital to meet with you.

Ask questions to help you make your choice

Law firms should be happy to provide you with the information you need to make your choice.

Here are some questions you/your family might want to ask them:

  1. Does your firm specialize in personal injury law?
  2. How many personal injury cases has your firm handled in the last two years?
  3. How many of those cases involved representing people with a brain injury?
  4. Do you provide the first consultation (visit) free of charge?
  5. In the past two years, what has been your firm’s success rate in cases where you represented people with a brain injury?
  6. How many trials has your firm done in the past two years? If my case proceeds to trial, is your firm prepared to take the case to court or would the file be passed to another firm?
  7. Would the same lawyer be handling my case from beginning to end? Is it possible to meet with the lawyer who would be working on my case?
  8. What are the options for paying for my legal work?
    • Would I need to pay you a retainer (money in advance) before you would represent my personal injury claim?
    • What will I have to pay if we don’t win the case?
    • Will I have to pay more if my case takes a long time?
    • Do you have any deferred payment plans (plans that let you pay over time)?
    • Could my legal costs be covered by legal aid or legal insurance? How would that work?
  9. I do not have car insurance. How will this impact my case?
  10. Who is responsible for payment of drug and medical bills, lost income, transportation and other expenses?
  11. English is not my first language. Is your law firm able to communicate in my language?

Making the Decision

After you have talked to several personal injury law firms, to help you decide about which law firm to choose, ask yourself:

  • How satisfied were you with how each firm answered your questions?
  • Do you feel that one of them understands the impact of a brain injury and will be able to represent your case well?

Other Resources

The HealthNOW Concussion Program and its partners do not recommend or endorse any particular lawyer.

Best Lawyers International produces lists in over 65 countries to help lawyers and clients connect.

Law Society of Ontario maintains a directory of certified specialists in civil litigation.

Lexpert – Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – is a comprehensive guide to leading lawyers across Canada.

A brain injury can be devastating for the person affected and their loved ones.

Whether you are the person with the acquired brain injury or caring for someone who is affected, the information under this section of the website will be useful at different times during the recovery process.

The information in the sections listed below will help you to know what to expect and/or help you find resources.

We recommend reading these sections as they become relevant to you.

This section was revised in collaboration with people with lived experience. We are grateful for their time and enthusiasm to improve the experience for others.