Helping a Family Member or Friend with ABI
For those who have someone in their lives with an acquired brain injury, we offer some suggestions on how to help the person. These suggestions may also help you cope, by giving you some new ideas to try, in situations that may be frustrating for both of you.
Effects
- – Physical outbursts such as hitting
- – Use of swearing or foul language
Suggestions
- – Develop a cueing system
- – Offer assertiveness or anger management training
- – Provide access to professional counselling
- – Consider non-violent crisis intervention training
- – Reinforce positive coping and communication skills
- – Allow time to leave and regroup; give feedback in a safe moment
Effects
- – Appears lazy, lethargic, or unmotivated
- – Lacks initiative in planning or engaging in activities
- – May forget or abandon tasks
Suggestions
- – Assist with maintaining a structured daily task list
- – Offer simple choices to increase participation
- – Explore goals and set achievable steps toward them
Effects
- – Difficulty focusing and filtering out distractions
- – Trouble maintaining or shifting attention
- – Challenges with multitasking
- – May appear disoriented or wander
- – Leaves tasks incomplete
Suggestions
- – Give short, clear instructions
- – Define goals and objectives explicitly
- – Incorporate engaging and relevant activities
- – Offer one-on-one support when needed
- – Minimize environmental distractions
Effects
- – Appears clumsy or unstable
- – Increased risk in crowded or busy areas
Suggestions
- – Review medical history and medications for contributing factors
- – Consult with an occupational therapist about safety supports (e.g., railings)
Effects
- – Loss of interest or enjoyment in life
- – Sleep disturbances or excessive sleep
- – Low motivation and energy
- – Social withdrawal or disengagement
- – Flat or unexpressive mood
Suggestions
- – Seek professional help, especially if suicidal thoughts arise
- – Structure their day with clear, achievable goals
- – Use concrete, task-oriented therapy methods
- – Introduce distraction and redirection techniques
- – Learn to read emotional cues beyond facial expressions
Effects
- – Difficulty controlling emotional reactions
- – Inappropriate or exaggerated emotional responses
Suggestions
- – Recognize exaggerated reactions may not reflect intense emotions
- – Model calm behavior and de-escalate through redirection
Effects
- – Appears pale or tired
- – Reduced attention and performance later in the day
- – Disengagement from enjoyable activities
- – Incomplete tasks due to low energy
Suggestions
- – Review medical conditions and medications
- – Ensure adequate rest and avoid overstimulation
- – Schedule demanding tasks during high-energy times (e.g., mornings)
- – Allow frequent rest breaks
- – Track fatigue triggers and adjust routines accordingly
Effects
- – Messy or slow writing
- – Tremors during fine tasks
- – Difficulty manipulating small items
Suggestions
- – Use adaptive tools like grip aids or tech devices
- – Consult with an occupational therapist
- – Encourage alternate tools such as tablets or computers
Effects
- – Partial or complete hearing loss in one or both ears
- – Appears unresponsive or inattentive
- – Misses instructions or verbal information
Suggestions
- – Install visual alert systems (e.g., flashing lights)
- – Work with hearing-impaired support services for accommodations
- – Monitor safety, especially in community environments
Effects
- – Reports of head pain
- – Difficulty concentrating or engaging
Suggestions
- – Allow breaks or quiet time as needed
- – Track patterns to identify triggers
- – Consult with healthcare providers for options like massage or physiotherapy
Effects
- – Makes inappropriate or hurtful comments
- – Disregards social boundaries or rules
- – Engages in unsafe or risky behavior
Suggestions
- – Redirect with appropriate alternatives (e.g., for sexual comments, provide appropriate greetings)
- – Teach self-monitoring techniques
- – Establish and review rules clearly
- – Use praise and reinforcement
- – Encourage peer modeling and review plans in advance
Effects
- – Slow to understand or respond
- – Struggles to complete tasks within normal timeframes
Suggestions
- – Break information into smaller parts
- – Allow extended time to process and respond
- – Be patient and avoid rushing
Effects
- – Intolerance of noise or distraction
- – Frustration with assistance or guidance
- – Avoidance of group settings
Suggestions
- – Help identify and cope with stressors
- – Redirect to calming activities
- – Anticipate triggers and avoid when possible
- – Offer feedback when calm
- – Use stress-reduction methods and private time
- – Recognize signs of rising frustration early
- – Demonstrate empathy and understanding
Effects
- – Easily manipulated or influenced
- – Ignores safety concerns or risks
Suggestions
- – Use signals or cues to raise awareness of risky behavior
- – Work together to create personal boundaries
- – Use role-play and guided reflection to evaluate relationships
Effects
- – Fails to understand others' responses to their behavior
- – May interrupt or dominate conversations
- – Struggles to recognize personal limitations
- – Resents guidance or supervision
Suggestions
- – Use role-playing or modeling to build awareness
- – Avoid confrontation; focus on safety
- – Adjust expectations to reflect their abilities
- – Celebrate success to build confidence
Effects
- – Misinterprets or misunderstands spoken information
- – Requires frequent repetition
- – Difficulty following conversation flow
- – Overwhelmed by large amounts of input
- – Interprets things literally
Suggestions
- – Speak with short, simple sentences
- – Repeat and summarize key points
- – Use written instructions and visual aids
- – Avoid metaphors or abstract language
Effects
- – Forgets names, faces, or tasks
- – Fails to retain new information
- – Poor recall of reading content or events
- – May become disoriented
Suggestions
- – Use schedules, calendars, or checklists
- – Encourage consistent use of reminders
- – Set alarms and visual cues for tasks
- – Note: traditional strategies (e.g. mnemonics) may not be effective
Effects
- – Poor handwriting or motor control
- – Tires easily
- – Cannot carry objects for long distances
Suggestions
- – Provide assistive tools (e.g., voice recorders, tablets)
- – Explore safe mobility options (e.g., backpack, rolling bag)
- – Consult occupational therapy for adaptive seating and home setup
Effects
- – Resists or disregards instructions, rules, or routines
Suggestions
- – Write down steps clearly
- – Involve peers or mentors
- – Use visual clues and structured environments
- – Avoid arguments—guide instead
- – Balance responsibilities with enjoyable activities
Effects
- – Difficulty articulating clearly
- – Breathy, hoarse, or nasal voice
- – Drooling or trouble swallowing
Suggestions
- – Be patient with speech delays
- – Sit face-to-face to better understand
- – Refer to speech therapist for guidance
Effects
- – Difficulty arranging tasks or events in sequence
- – Disoriented in daily routines
- – Leaves tasks unfinished
Suggestions
- – Break down steps and list them
- – Use visual checklists and maps
- – Reinforce use of compensatory tools (e.g., planners)
Effects
- – Difficulty identifying problems or finding solutions
- – May struggle with evaluating options
- – Reluctance or inability to ask for help
Suggestions
- – Display rules or step guides
- – Encourage guided peer involvement
- – Break large tasks into smaller steps
- – Give regular supervision and feedback
Effects
- – Does not grasp sarcasm, metaphors, or abstract ideas
- – Responses may be off-topic or overly detailed
Suggestions
- – Keep explanations concrete and clear
- – Be direct in conversation
- – Avoid relying on figurative speech
Effects
- – Experiences seizures (e.g. petit mal or grand mal)
Suggestions
- – Learn to identify aura or early signs
- – Know potential medication side effects
- – Review physician guidelines
- – Follow seizure safety protocol:
- – 1. Remain calm
- – 2. Prevent injury
- – 3. Do not restrain
- – 4. Do not insert objects in the mouth
- – 5. Roll them to their side after the seizure ends
- – 6. Call emergency services if seizure lasts over 5 minutes or repeats
- – 7. Offer comfort afterward and allow rest
Effects
- – Reduced sensation or hypersensitivity to touch or temperature
Suggestions
- – Provide cues to monitor temperature or injury risk
- – Implement desensitization if necessary
- – Ensure safety in hot/cold environments
Effects
- – Inappropriate or overly personal comments
- – Inability to regulate behavior during serious moments
- – Oversharing about personal injury
- – Displays egocentric thinking
Suggestions
- – Offer alternative phrasing or behaviors immediately
- – Practice scenarios using role-play
- – Use signals or agreed non-verbal cues
- – Review interactions using video or discussion
Effects
- – Lacks social awareness and personal boundaries
- – Interrupts or dominates conversations
- – Avoids or does not initiate interaction
Suggestions
- – Model appropriate social cues
- – Encourage group involvement and self-esteem building
- – Educate friends and community on how to include them
- – Use mentoring or peer groups
Effects
- – Has trouble finding words or articulating clearly
- – Speaks too quickly or too slowly
- – Repeats phrases or fills gaps with made-up information
Suggestions
- – Ask structured, specific questions
- – Provide immediate feedback
- – Encourage vocabulary through description practice
- – Support self-awareness of limitations
Effects
- – Frequently goes off-topic or rambles
- – Fails to read the listener’s cues
Suggestions
- – Interrupt gently to redirect focus
- – Summarize key topics and stay on track
Effects
- – Limited visual field
- – Difficulty processing fast or complex visuals
- – Overwhelmed in busy visual settings
Suggestions
- – Use large print or audio resources
- – Minimize visual clutter
- – Consult vision or neurological specialists
- – Place key content in optimal visual range