When you receive the call that your loved one has been involved in a serious accident that has resulted in a catastrophic brain injury, you may immediately think the worst. It will undoubtedly take time for your family member to recover from his or her injury and a full recovery may be impossible depending on the severity of the accident. At Shea & Shea, we have helped many victims of traumatic brain injuries in California.
One of the areas of function that may have been readily affected by your loved one’s accident and subsequent injury is his or her ability to communicate. According to brainline.org, you may notice several changes to the level of effectiveness with which your loved one is able to communicate including the following:
- Trouble figuring out how to begin or carry on a conversation.
- Inability to understand what is being said in a conversation including the ability to follow along.
- Slurring, getting words mixed up or speaking too quickly and loudly.
- Mix-ups with which words to use to describe what it is that they want to say.
Difficulties communicating may be demoralizing at first for your loved one. As such, it is critical that you give your family member your undivided attention as you listen intently and respond with patience and reassurance. When you are prepared to interact differently than you had before your loved one’s accident, you may be able to more effectively provide support and encouragement. For more information about personal injury, visit our web page.