Module 1 Post-test: Questions & answers   

In multiple choice questions correct answers are indicated with * in red italics

1. How confident are you

That that you can describe what an acquired brain injury is?
That that you can describe the basic anatomy of the skull and brain?
That you can identify the area of the brain that if injured could cause the person to have difficulties with planning and coordination?
That you can identify the common effects of ABI?
That you understand the levels of severity of ABI?
That you understand what rehabilitation is?
That you can identify the issues and challenges after an ABI faced by the person with the ABI and their family and friends?

There is no correct answer. Has your confidence improved from the Pre-Test?

2. What are two essentials ingredients of Acquired Brain Injury?

Cognitive impairment
*Injury to the brain
*Impairment of brain functioning
Permanent impairment
Stroke
Don't Know

3. What is the primary function of the brain's frontal lobe?

Sensation
Language
Breathing
Vision
*Planning and coordination
Don't Know

4. Common areas of effects of Acquired Brain Injury include: Cognitive; Communication/language; Physical/sensory; Emotional/behavioural/personality. Which of the following are cognitive effects?

*Difficulty paying attention
Muscle control difficulties
Paralysis
Loss of sense of smell
*Reduced memory
Dizziness
Don't Know

5. Which of the following are good rules of thumb for working with people with ABI? *

* People with an acquired brain injury can grow in their skills for independence in the short to medium term (except where the ABI is caused by a degenerative disease).
* People with an acquired brain injury can grow in their skills for independence in the long term (except where the ABI is caused by a degenerative disease).
The rate of improvement can be slow but is easy to identify.
* Understand the injury, its effects and effects on behaviour including social changes.
Take the person with ABI's behaviours personally.
* When working with the services network be prepared to work creatively and encourage others to work creatively
Don't Know

6. What is the most common cause of acquired brain injury for people 18 to 25 years?*

*Trauma
Stroke
Alcohol related
Anoxic / Hypoxic
Degenerative disease
Don't Know

7. What is the primary function of the brain's parietal lobe?*

*Sensation
Language
Breathing
Vision
Planning and coordination
Don't Know

8. What are the typical causes of sudden onset ABIs?*

*Traumatic brain injury
*Stroke
*Hypoxia/anoxia
*Infections
Tumours
Alcohol
Degenerative neurological diseases

9. What are two causes of stroke?*

Blow to the head
*Blocked artery
Toxins
*Internal bleeding
Breakdown of myelin
Don't know

10. ABI can be mild, moderate, severe, very severe. A mild brain injury could be someone who has good physical recovery and is able go back to previous work. Approximately what percentage of people with a mild ABI experience lifetime problems with living and learning. *

0%   *10%   20%   30%    40%   Half      Two thirds     90%     Don't know

11. Rehabilitation aims to facilitate ongoing recovery. Rehabilitation enables a person to become as independent as they possibly can. Where does rehabilitation take place? *

*Hospital acute beds
*Specialist rehabilitation services
*Hospital general beds
*In community services
*At home
*Generalist rehabilitation services
Don't Know

If you don't know the answer to any of the open-ended questions below type in Don't Know.

12. What are three common types of speech language and communication difficulties?

Some common speech language and communication difficulties are:

• difficulty understanding what is said to you
• difficulty finding the words you are looking for
• difficulty in moving and coordinating the muscles used for speaking.

13. What is the difference between intellectual disability and acquired brain injury?

ABI is different from intellectual disability (ID)

Intellectual disability is present from birth ABI is not.

People with ABI and ID can present with similar symptoms and impairment, such as cognitive and sensory difficulties. However, an acquired brain injury can occur at any age after birth, in contrast to an Intellectual Disability, which most commonly exists from birth.

What most distinguishes ABI from ID is the fact that most people with an ABI retain their pre-injury intellectual abilities, the injury having merely impaired the expression of these abilities.

With treatment and support, most people with an ABI can expect their symptoms to improve and to recover some of their former capabilities through rehabilitation. By contrast, people with an ID are more likely to be involved in habilitation programs (being able to make the most of their current capabilities).

14. For people with an ABI what are two examples of: ABI Cause - area of injury - general effect of the injury -  specific impairment - behaviour management strategy

Trauma - injury to frontal lobe - effect on cognitive functioning - memory difficulties - use of mobile phone reminders

Stroke - injury to the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes - effects on cognition/communication/behaviour - memory difficulties reduced insight/ fatigue/ disinhibition / - case management / weekly planner / structured routines

15. You are going to be talking with family members of a person with an acquired brain injury about how they are coping. The family is coming to terms with their situation. The family member got a serious ABI about six months ago. You are running over in your mind key points that you might want to highlight during the conversation. What are five key points you would keep in the back of your mind? *

Here are some examples:

1. Having a family member with a brain injury is one of the most serious challenges a family can face.
2. Families cope in many different ways.
3. Learn about acquired brain injury.
4. The person with the ABI will be the same but different.
5. Understanding how they are different is a key part of moving on.
6. The person with the ABI needs to be part of the decision making.
7. Identify specific strategies that help you deal with specific problems (labelling drawers, using memory aids, etc).
8. Creatively find ways around ongoing difficulties and see this as steps towards recovery
9. You are part of a wider team of people.
10. Sharing information will help with the provision of services.
11. Gains are possible but often slow in coming.
12. All members of the family have needs. Understand your family dynamics and your family's needs.
13. Everyone in the family will go through loss, grief and re-discovery.
14. The process of coping with a family member with an ABI constantly changes.
15. Families often have less stress when they actively try to find solutions to problems than when they avoid the problems trying not to think about it or avoiding dealing with it.