Information for Parents/ Carers

When your child has sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI), you usually receive lots of information.  It is quite a task to read it all, take it in and decide what is relevant for your child. 

Some of the important questions about ABI are:

What is an acquired brain injury (ABI)? 

What are the effects of an ABI?

What's the impact of an ABI on the developing child?

The recovery process – will my child get better?

How to prepare for transitions?

Who’s who in the rehabilitation team?

Returning to school?

Return to sport?

Some of the important questions about how to manage oneself and the family are:

Thinking about you: Words of wisdom?

A group of families from the south west of NSW got together to share their experiences of ABI.  The parents involved had some things they thought would be helpful for other parents of a child with an ABI to know.  You may want to know what they wished they'd known about earlier on in their child's recovery.

Thinking about you: Grief and loss

Grieving in some form is a normal reaction to any form of loss (e.g. a break up of a relationship, a death or a brain injury). When a child has had an acquired brain injury, parents can experience feelings of considerable loss.  These losses can be practical (home, relationship, financial security) or symbolic (hopes and dreams).

Thinking about you: Looking after yourself

Having a family member with an ABI can be very stressful. The cause of an injury can be particularly traumatic, especially if totally unexpected or if someone else is found to be at fault. Adjusting to family changes after a brain injury can take months to years.

Helping siblings

Sibling relationships are complex and are often characterised by dynamics such as love, hate, jealousy, rivalry, loyalty, competition and companionship. These relationships can become even more complicated following an ABI.

Talking with your child

Is talking with your child ever like getting blood from a stone?  Have you ever asked “How was school today?” and just got “GOOD”?  Have you ever listened to your child talking with friends or relatives and realised that they don’t really know how to maintain a conversation?  Have you ever thought that their description of events was wildly inaccurate or “all over the place?”

Helping your child to study

There are a number of different study techniques that can help children learn and remember information. Some of these techniques are included here.  Encourage children to try different techniques and work out which ones are better for them.  We all learn in different ways and we need to find out what way is best for us. 

 

Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Step by Step

Tool (Browse in window below)	New Tab	Description
Booklet 1: An introduction to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation team		Sydney Children's Hospital Network booklets for parents and caregiver's of children who have sustained a brain injury.
Booklet 2:Understanding the causes and effects of brain injury.
Booklet 3:Physical recovery and learning after brain injury.
Booklet 4: Family, emotions and going home.
Booklet 5: Medico-legal advice, teenagers and contact numbers.

 

 

 

Factsheets and Documents

A pack of 8 booklets developed by South West Brain Injury Service. These are second edition revised resources(2016). They are a great support written for children, parents, teachers and aides. 

Resource (Browse in window below)	New Tab	Description
1. Heads Up on Brain Injury		Fact pack written for kids which covers recovery, mental health issues, fatigue, surviving school, sexuality, driving and relationships plus heaps more
2. Especially for Parents		Information and strategies for parents and all people involved in supporting a child with  behaviour changes post brain injury.  In depth analysis and problem solving strategies are explored
3. Achieving Goals		A fact pack to help with goal setting, decision making and planning.  It details the Goal Plan Predict Do Review approach and has clear resources to structure each stage of this approach.  A resource for anyone working with a child with brain injury.
4. Siblings		A great resource for  siblings of children with brain injury to help understand what is happening to their family, what a brain injury can be like, good supports for them and how they can contribute and help in their family.
5. Behaviour		Information and strategies for parents and all people involved in supporting a child with  behaviour changes post brain injury.
6. Choosing a School		Information and strategies for parents on choosing and transitioning to a High School
7. Study Skills		Strategies to help with study after brain injury written for teenagers.
8. Teachers and Aides		Ideas, strategies, and resources for teachers and aides working with a student who has sustained a brain injury.