Recent Blog Posts

    • How Brain Injury Can Affect a Child's Development A recent article on CNN.com, Severe traumatic brain injury affects development in young children, highlights an important aspect of brain injury recovery. While a child who suffered a traumatic brain injury may not present immediate physical injuries, the long-term affects a TBI can have on a child’s cognitive development and long-term intellectual ability as they get older could be devastating. The article discusses a study which compared the social, intellectual, and behavioral functions of 53 children who had experienced a traumatic brain injury before the age of three. According to the study, while a severe TBI was associated with lowered intellectual function, the socioeconomic status of the child's family may be a more powerful predictor of the child's intellectual development.  They cannot fully explain why, but they suggest lower socioeconomic status, high parental stress and low parental involvement has an effect on a child's recovery. ....
    • Long-Term Intellectual Outcome of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Limits to Neuroplasticity of the Young Brain, This month’s issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics contained an interesting article, Long-Term Intellectual Outcome of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Limits to Neuroplasticity of the Young Brain, by Harvey S. Levin. Dr. Levin reports on two studies from the same children’s hospital with regard to the outcome of children who have sustained traumatic brain injury.  Dr. Levin states that “taken together, these studies challenge views long held by clinicians and researchers, including that young children are more resilient to the effects of TBI on intellectual development then older children because of the greater capacity for neuroplasticity.  The view that young children have greater capacity for cerebral reorganization of function may find support in early, focal vascular lesions, but not in severe diffused white matter injury.  The data reported by Anderson, et al. also challenge the contention that ....
    • Photosensitivity Following Traumatic Brain Injury I recently read an article on the International Brain Injury Association’s website by Neera Kapoor, OD, MS entitled, Photosensitivity Following Traumatic Brain Injury. The article discusses sensory disorders, including anomalies of vision, audition and olfaction, commonly associated with those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. Kapoor states that roughly 20-40% of brain injury survivors suffer from some form of photosensitivity. Photosensitivity, also reported as photophobia, is a common symptom in those with traumatic brain injury, usually occurring in the absence of ocular inflammation or disease.  Treatment options remain non-standardized, however, there are possible treatments being studied which one day may provide a solution to this devastating side effect of TBI.   ....
    • Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey Receives Donation from Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation Congratulations to The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey who recently received over $8,000 in donations from the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation’s Triumph of the Human Spirits awards dinner. The awards dinner was held December 1, 2011 at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey, honored members of the hospital's medical, nursing, therapy, and support staff for their exceptional work and dedication to patient care and service. “We value our partnership with the Kessler Institute and look forward to continued collaboration to further advance issues that help people with brain injuries in New Jersey," says Rita Steindlberger, Senior Director of Operations for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey."The awards dinner was wonderful and I was honored to witness first-hand the commitment and positive energy of the Kessler staff, and to hear the inspiring stories of their patients."   ....
    • Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey Release Report Stating High Schools' Lack of Compliance with New Jersey Concussion Law The Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) released a Concussion Policy Survey which states that although New Jersey has implemented the Concussion Law, some schools are delaying in their compliance with the new regulations. The survey examined 110 high school athletic trainers throughout the state of New Jersey and states that while most districts have a board approved policy, others do not and those without blame the Law stating that it is difficult to interpret certain provisions. Some argue that terms included in the Law, such as “physician trained in concussion management,”  “academic modifications,” and “asymptomatic,” are not clearly defined in the context of the description. The report states that: Only 63% of team physicians are “trained in the management of concussions” 9% of respondents do not have a board approved concussion policy. 27% of schools adopted a generic policy. 84% of districts do not defined ....
    • Sarah Burke, Four-Time Winter X Games Gold Medalist and Olympic Hopeful, Dies at 29 Sarah Burke, Canadian freestyle skier, four-time Winter X Games Gold Medalist and Olympic gold-medal contender, died yesterday at the age of 29 after complications from an accident at the Park City, Utah halfpipe January 10th.  Burke was considered a pioneer in her sport as she successfully lobbied to add superpipe skiing to the Olympic Winter Games. The accident tore one of Burke’s major arteries supplying blood to her brain, causing her to go into cardiac arrest. She underwent surgery and spent nine days on life support at the University of Utah Hospital. Doctors state that Burke suffered irreversible brain damage after the fall because of a lack of oxygen and blood to the brain. Members of the skiing community say Burke was a pioneer among freeskiers who inspired them to do greater things. "Sarah was the one who, in a very positive way, stood in the face of adversity and asked, `Why not?"' said Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada's freestyle team. "She's ....
    • Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey to Hold 2012 Annual Gala The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (formerly the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey) will host the 2012 Gala Tuesday, March 13, 2012. The event will take place at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey. The gala will honor individuals who have displayed extraordinary leadership in our New Jersey communities: Peter A. Inverso, President & CEO, Roma Financial Corporation Al Maghazehe, President & CEO, Capital Health Systems, Inc. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District Becky Quick, Co-Anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and Honorary Chair. For information about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kit Hall at khall@bianj.org or 732.745.0200. ....
    • Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Changes Name & Affiliation Effective January 1, 2012, The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey will no longer be a chartered state affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America. BIANJ assures it’s supporters that there will be no disruption in the services provided. The BIANJ is an incorporated entity in the state of New Jersey and therefore, does not receive financial support from The Brain Injury Association of America. The monetary contributions awarded through government contracts, corporate and foundation grants, and from individual donations will not be affected. Additionally, in an effort to create a larger presence, the BIANJ is working with representatives from other state brain injury organizations that are no longer affiliated with BIAA to discuss ways that they can work together to improve the lives of people with brain injury and their caregivers.   ....
    • Marriage After Brain Injury A recent New York Times article details the struggles many families face after one member sustains a traumatic brain injury. Until recently, there had been little to no research conducted on how to rebuild a marriage, and a family, after such a traumatic event. Doctors frequently warn the uninjured spouse that the significant changes in the injured party’s personality is too much for a marriage to stand, and ultimately, these families are faced with divorce. Contrary to popular belief however, many marriages do survive after a spouse suffers a brain injury. Some studies find divorce rates well below the national average among these couples, including an investigation which was conducted in 2007 which found that the divorce rate was around 17% in couples followed for as long as 90 months after a spouse sustained a brain injury. The article offers insight into the work Dr. Jeffrey S. Kreutzer, a psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA is conducting. Dr. ....
    • International Brain Injury Association Accepting Nominations for 2012 Young Investor and Lifetime Achievement Awards The International Brain Injury Association is now accepting nominations for their 2012 Young Investigator Award and Lifetime Achievement Award. The deadline for both awards is Monday January 23, 2012. Nominations for the Young Investigator Award for Early Career Contributions to the Field of Brain Injury Science must be no more than 10 years post-completion of training (either MD, DO or PhD). The awardee will receive a crystal award acknowledging their accomplishment and a $2,000 cash prize at the Gala Dinner during the IBIA World Congress. This award is given biennially. The IBIA awards committee will make the final decision on the winner with the input of the Chairperson and President.   The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a candidate who has made significant contributions to the field of brain injury through some form of advocacy (prevention, education, legislative, scientific, etc). It is anticipated that said individual will have made a contribution to the field of ....
    • Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Launches New Support Group The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey will be launching a new support group this February. The group will be located in Willingboro, New Jersey and will host their first meeting on February 21, 2011. The new group will focus on serving teens and young adults with brain injury, as well as their parents and caregivers. For more information about the meeting contact:  Elizabeth Blackburn-Gruver or Mary Wightman Murdock at 609-877-4111.   ....
    • Brain Injury Association of New Jersey's Children & Adolescents Committee Conducts Survey for Parents of Brain Injured Children The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey is looking for parents of children and teens who have sustained a brain injury to help them improve the services and support they provide for children and adolescents who have suffered a brain injury in New Jersey. The BIANJ is conducting a survey online to ensure the interests of concerned parents are heard. Visit them online to be a part of this year’s survey! ....
    • Sport Concussion Library: New website offers a wealth of information for the public, as well as medical professionals A team of Canadian concussion specialists created an online concussion library full of information and resources for both the public and research and medical professionals. The Sport Concussion Library includes more than 2,300 peer-reviewed journal articles, 61 book chapters, entries on thesis research, concussion legislation on the federal, state and provincial levels, filmed documentaries, and a downloadable SCAT2 test, the standard sideline concussion assessment tool. The library and its information is free, will be updated monthly and contains no advertising. There are sections specific to hockey, football, soccer, baseball and several other sports, as well as a section containing concussion research conducted by the military. Entries range from a simple definition of a concussion and information for parents, players and coaches, to the latest research papers. I encourage my readers to view the site and keep it in mind for the future should you need information related to ....
    • American Board of Medical Specialties Approved Brain Injury Medicine Sub-Specialty This past September, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved an application, co-sponsored by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, which offers a certification in the sub-specialty of Brain Injury Medicine. This certification has been in the works for the past 10 years and will aid in the growing need for additional monitoring, assessment and treatments of patients with brain injuries. This new certification will lead the way in providing advanced, yet cost-effective care for patients with brain injuries. The new sub-speciality of Brain Injury Medicine will focus on the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with acquired brain injuries.   ....
    • New Research Shows That Soccer Can Cause Concussions and Other Brain Injuries A report conducted by ItsMyHealth.com states that researchers recently found that when soccer players “head” the ball, they tend to suffer the same side effects as those who have sustained a concussion. Additionally, if a player repeatedly “heads” the ball, this can result in a concussion like injury and impaired cognitive functioning. Although soccer is commonly viewed as a ‘non-contact sport’ and therefore people believe it is less likely to cause injury, the truth is there are still serious concerns associated with any sport.   The study states that in adult recreational games, the ball can travel at speeds of more than 50 kms/hour and in professional soccer games, the speed of the ball can reach speeds of more than 125 km/hour. Those players who played a lot were at highest risk. ....
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