FORT SILL, Okla. (March 20, 2014) -- The Department of Defense released the "Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness for Soldiers and Leaders" guidelines in June. These guidelines direct commanders and Soldiers as to how to treat concussions. The Cannoneer reviewed these guidelines in a continuing effort to raise awareness about TBI during March.
Dr. Jason Albano is supervisory neuropsychologist at the Fort Sill TBI clinic. "At Fort Sill we are continuing to provide mental health care services to Soldiers, and they aren't going to lose any access to our clinic.
"We continue to train other health care providers on post to do assessments, and to look for signs of TBI and other behavioral health issues in returning Soldiers. Evaluation and assessment of concussions is still very much a priority, to accurately diagnose and assess Soldiers who experienced blasts or concussive injuries," Albano said.
"One of our greatest issues is still getting the message to Soldiers as quickly as possible that they should have an expectation of recovery if diagnosed in a timely manner. TBI, also referred to as a concussion, is definitely the type of injury where people can get better. A concussive brain injury is like a bruise on the brain. If it is given a chance to heal, it will get better with time and rest," Albano said.
"But the dangerous part of concussions is the cumulative part. The difference between a regular bruise on your body and one on the brain is that the brain remembers a bruise for a long time. Once the bruise on the brain heals, it will be better, but it takes time and rest. And, if you bruise it again in three days, the effects multiply rather than add up. They become much more significant, much quicker."
According to the TBI guidelines, traumatic brain injuries are classified as mild, moderate, severe or penetrating. More than 76 percent of TBIs are mild. Early detection and treatment are keys to preventing long-term effects of concussion.
The Army defines mild TBI (mTBI) as a concussion that is caused by a blow or jolt (during sports, combatives, etc.), falls or some external force such as a blast or explosion that can temporarily change the normal brain function.
A simple assessment of potential concussion symptoms is the acronym HEADS.
Headaches that don't go away.
Ears ringing.
Altered, or loss of consciousness.
Dizziness or double vision.
Something just does not feel right.
Additional concussion symptoms are:
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatigue
- Slowed thinking
- Difficulty finding words
- Poor concentration
- Memory problems
- Anxiety/Depression
- Irritability or mood swings
Because of mTBI, Soldiers may experience difficulty sleeping at night, decreased energy and alertness, reduced work performance and trouble multi-tasking. They are also easily distracted, have difficulty processing multiple sources of information and have personal and relational problems. Concussions also can decrease Soldiers' effectiveness and ability to their job and can negatively affect their unit.
Commanders are being directed to ensure that Soldiers who have experienced concussions have adequate time to recover. The guidelines are:
- A Soldier who has received one concussion in a 12-month period should receive at least 24 hours of recovery.
- For Soldiers who receive two concussions in a 12-month period should receive seven additional days of recovery time after symptoms resolve.
- For three concussions in a 12-month period should receive a recurrent concussion medical re-evaluation prior to returning to full duty.
Soldiers must seek medical evaluations as soon as possible after a suspected concussion. Every concussion is different and Soldiers recover at different rates and respond differently to treatment. Most Soldiers can expect to recover fully with adequate rest and time.
Albano states if Soldiers are concerned there is something wrong, the most appropriate first step is go to their primary care provider at the hospital.
"The military providers have been treating concussions longer than any other discipline. The primary care manager will define what symptoms need to be looked at first. Then the specialty clinics, like the TBI clinic, will provide a more targeted assessment to help the Soldier to define the symptoms. The person who needs the most information is the Solider, so they can manage their care," Albano said. "When in doubt, check it out."
If you are experiencing symptoms of a concussion, call your primary care provider at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, or call the Fort Sill TBI clinic at 580-442-4678.
For additional information on TBI and concussion issues, come by the promotional infomation table March 24-28 from 11 a.m. to noon outside the RACH dining facility off of the main lobby.
The promotion is sponsored by the TBI clinic to provide Soldiers and their family members more information about TBI and how the disorder can be diagnosed and treated.
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