Executive Functions
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Definition
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The ability to reason, plan, problem solve, make
inferences, and/or evaluate results of actions and decisions.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Poor Convergent Reasoning: Hard to
narrow down the key point or main idea of something. Hard to choose the best possible solution
to a problem.
Poor Divergent Reasoning: Hard
to come up with more than one way of thinking about something. Hard to see another point of view. Difficulty with empathy. Hard to think of multiple solutions to a
problem, causing one to get stuck if one solution does not work.
Difficulty with Goal-Oriented Behavior: Hard
to set reasonable, attainable goals. Difficulty
thinking of all of the steps required to reach a goal. Difficulty prioritizing what to do
first. Problems evaluating how your
plan is going, fixing mistakes, and changing the plan as needed.
Making Poor Decisions: Acting
on false or incomplete information.
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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(...which must not be pressed under any circumstances...)
Friday, March 13, 2015
Brain Injury Functioning Issue #7
Brain Injury Functioning Issue #6
Memory
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Definition
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Taking in new information, holding on to
information, and recalling information when needed.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Difficulty Retaining New Information: Hard to hold
on to even brief instructions or explanations. Difficulty remembering what was said at the
beginning of a conversation.
Difficulty Storing New Information: Information
is not retained long enough to be permanently stored.
Difficulty Retrieving Stored Information: Hard to recall the main point of a conversation,
even if it just occurred. May forget
important things learned from experience, causing mistakes to be
repeated.
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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Brain Injury Functioning Issue #4
Information Processing
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Definition
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Taking environmental stimulation in through the five
senses, interpreting it, and responding to it.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Thinking Speed is Slower: It takes
longer to understand sensory information and make sense of what is going on
in a situation.
Delay in Responding:
There may be a long pause
before the person responds with words or behavior, and they may not be aware
of this.
Process only Fragments of Information: Because
of the slowed processing speed, parts of information heard or seen may be
missed.
Hard Time Being Concise: It
may be difficult to decide when enough has been said, and a person may
continue to speak and lose their listeners’ attention.
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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Brain Injury Functioning Issues #3
Disinhibition
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Definition
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A syndrome marked by difficulty properly directing
and controlling energy and emotions.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Impulsivity: Doing or saying things without considering the
consequences. Making decisions before
thinking about all of the information.
Feelings or behaviors come on too strong and/or too
fast: Feelings come to the surface and are hard to hold
back. Reacting to small things with
too much emotion. Talking too loud or
too fast when the topic is emotional.
Restlessness: Hard to keep still. Intense and frequent need to move or
fidget.
Irritable and Easily Frustrated: Hard to
forget even small irritations.
Brooding. Often require others
to help calm down.
Emotional Flooding: Can become
easily overwhelmed when feeling challenged socially or cognitively. Mind “goes blank.” Once flooded, it is temporarily impossible
to think clearly or act purposefully.
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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Attention/Concentration
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Definition
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Staying awake, alert and ready, focusing, and
keeping a train of thought.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Hard to Stay Alert: Not enough
mental energy to engage fully in the environment.
Hard to Focus Attention: Easily
distracted by noises and things around you.
Distracted by personal thoughts, feelings, and worries.
Lose “Train of Thought:” Once able to focus, a person may lose “train of
thought” or concentration if distracted.
It may be hard for a person to make a point without getting off track
and “rambling.”
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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eyes
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Brain Injury Functioning Issues #2
Adynamia
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Definition
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Low mental energy or apparent lack of will. Not “dynamic.”
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Trouble Initiating:
Hard to get started on things.
Difficulty Generating Thoughts/Ideas: Run out of ideas
quickly. Do not give a lot of details
in communication.
Lack of Spontaneity: Loss of
“spirit.” Others think you are not
interested or are just “going through the motions.” Face often does not show emotion. “Poker Faced”
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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One of My Main Problems In Relation to Functioning Issues Since My Brain Injury
Neurofatigue
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Definition
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Fatigue that is organically based and NOT due to
excessive activity or abnormal sleep patterns. It can emerge suddenly without warning, or
after engaging in a cognitively demanding task.
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Signs and
Symptoms of Problems
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Lack of Energy to Engage: Difficulty engaging in activities of daily living,
communicating with others, or social activities.
Low Arousal: Difficulty waking up and staying awake
throughout the day. It may require
auditory and tactile cueing to wake from sleep. It may be hard to open the eyes.
Decreased Alertness: Decreased
ability to maintain mental awareness of surroundings, leading to decreased
response to them.
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Strategies
for Survivors and Significant Others
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