Changing the narrative to hope: Maximizing brain health, function and participation following Brain Injury
Intensive Cross Cutting Poster
Geraldine Martens, MS
PhD Candidate
University of Liege
Liege, Liege
Yelena Bodien, PhD
Research Scientist
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Amber Thomas, BS
Research Assistant
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Joseph Giacino, PhD
Director, Rehabilitation Neuropsychology
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Charlestown, Massachusetts
In patients with severe brain injury recovering communication during inpatient rehabilitation, discernible yes-no responses emerge approximately 6 weeks after injury and become reliable about one week later. Approximately one in three patients do not demonstrate IC or FC within eight weeks of admission to rehabilitation, although 33% of these individuals regain communication ability prior to discharge. These findings suggest that about 50% of patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation can be expected to communicate reliably during the first two months post-injury, and time to rehabilitation admission influences recovery of communication.