Motor Deficits and Disabilities

For many patients, the damage to the brain resulting from a moderate to severe TBI may lead to life-long disabilities or motor deficits. The term disability in relationship to TBI means a loss of physical or mental function caused by damage to the brain. Motor deficits refer specifically to the effect of damage on motor skills or movement.

Examples of disabilities and motor deficits caused by moderate to severe TBI include:

• Paralysis
• Spasticity (muscle stiffness) or uncontrolled movements
• Problems walking, talking, or swallowing
• Difficulty carrying or moving objects
• Vision problems
• Loss of fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt
• Inability to recognize something based on touch
• Difficulty thinking and remembering
• Difficulty with social relationships

Other challenges that a patient with moderate or severe TBI may experience include:

• Difficulty making and keeping personal and professional relationships
• Difficulty being part of social activities
• Difficulty taking part in recreational or leisure activities
• The decreased ability or inability to keep a job or go to school

During the rehabilitation and transition phases of TBI treatment, members of the healthcare team will provide information to the patient and their family members about dealing with these issues. Specific tools and coping strategies will be suggested. Examples of coping strategies and tools include:

• Writing a detailed list of steps needed to complete a task
• Using prompts or visual aids to help remember things
• Using assistive devices to move around, such as a walker or a wheelchair

Learning new ways to do things is a very important part of recovery.