YouTube Playlist for TN Early Intervention System (TEIS): A collection of videos with helpful information regarding early intervention of TBI.
Check out the "Helpful Resources" section for additional information and materials in English & in Español.
Age Specific Educational Tools:
Brain Injury in Young Children: Refer to this tool to learn more about the signs and symptoms and the effects of multiple brain injuries for children under age five. English and in Español.
Older Child's Signs & Symptoms: Refer to this tool to learn more about health problems, behavior changes, thinking difficulties, and communication changes associated with concussions, as well as when to reconsult a doctor. English and in Español.
Adult Signs & Symptoms Tool: English and in Español.
Recognizing Concussion in People Who Communicate Without Words: English and in Español.
When Concussion Symptoms Are Not Going Away: Signs, symptoms and danger signs, plus what to look for over time and where/how to seek help for symptoms that aren't going away. Contact us for more information: tbi@tndisability.org
For Parents of Children Five and Under. English and in Español.
For Parents of School-Aged Children. English and in Español.
For Adults. English and in Español.
Things to Watch For Over Time: This sheet will help you learn what symptoms to keep an eye out for after a concussion.
The 5 Types of Concussion and 2 Modifying Factors Infographic was created to reflect the update to the model by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center based on extensive research previously developed by them and others. Word Document File.
Symptom Tracker: Track Symptoms, pain level changes, what provokes and what helps. Good information to take back to the healthcare provider.
SCREENING FOR PRIOR HISTORY OF BRAIN INJURY:
An abundance of research now clearly shows that people with a prior history of brain injury are more likely to experience problems later in life (beginning as early as one year later). These problems can include: substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic violence (either as the perpetrator or the victim), additional brain injuries, chronic pain, justice involvement, and more. Early identification and ongoing monitoring are, therefore, vitally important.
SAFE CHild Screening Tool: Birth to 3-year-olds Young children are at high risk for sustaining brain injuries. Data gathered using the SAFE CHild Screening Tool will provide information to help professionals develop and implement appropriate services.
SAFE CHild Screening Tool: 3-Year-Olds to Kindergarten
Yearly screening: Recommend using the HELPS Brain Injury Screening Tool.
The HELPS TBI screening tool was developed by M. Picard, D. Scarisbrick, R. Paluck, 9/91, International Center for the Disabled, TBI-NET, U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Grant #H128A00022. The Helps Tool was updated by project personnel to reflect recent recommendations by the CDC on the diagnosis of TBI.
On intake (and possibly yearly) Brain Link's encourages using the HELPS Brain Injury Screening Tool OR consider adding questions to the current intake form.
Example: Circle or provide checkboxes with a space for them to explain.
Ask: Has your child had an injury? Yes No
Cause of injury: Fall Car/motor vehicle accident Sports related other
If Yes: Did your child lose consciousness or become dazed? Yes No Not sure
Please explain: __________________________________________________
This list of resources is shared by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
- Brain Check Survey (BCS):This parent-completed screening tool, from the Life Outcomes after Brain Injury research center within the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, is used to establish a credible history of brain injury. Check out the Brain Check Survey Scoring Tool. Read more from Life Outcomes After Brain Injury Research Program.
Concussions Are Treatable: In fact, treatment may help you get better FASTER. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have had a concussion. They may ask you some questions and do simple tests. All concussions are different. Depending on your symptoms, they may treat you in their office. To learn more, explore this resource.
TN TBI Services Directory & Resource Guide: The Tennessee Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Service Directory and Resource Information Guide was designed to assist in locating programs, organizations, agencies, and services available across the state of Tennessee and the nation.
TN TBI Service Coordination Program: There are currently eight Service Coordinators (view list) located in various non-profit agencies across the state. The Service Coordinator’s role is to work with persons with brain injury and their family to access current needs. The goal of service coordination is to improve the quality of life for persons with brain injury.
Service Coordination services are provided free of charge, services include:
** develops a comprehensive plan of care;
** provides referrals to available resources;
** coordinates services for individual client advocacy; and
** bridges gaps in the service delivery system.
Virtual and In-person Brain Injury Support Groups have been established across the state. To learn more about services call 1-800-882-0611.
CDC Letter: Returning to School After a Concussion:
DEAR SCHOOL STAFF: This letter offers input from a healthcare provider with experience in treating concussion, a type of traumatic brain injury. This letter was created to help school professionals and parents support students returning to school after a concussion. You can use these recommendations to make decisions about support for your student based on his or her specific needs. This letter is not intended to create a 504 Plan or an IEP unless school professionals determine that one is needed. Most students will only need short-term support as they recover from a concussion. A strong relationship between the healthcare provider, the school, and the parents will help your student recover and return to school.
CDC Factsheet for School Professionals: Returning to School After A Concussion
Concussion and Brain Injury in Students, Who needs to know? Concussion is a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). A TBI during childhood may affect brain development. Children may experience changes in their health, thinking, and behavior that affect learning, self-regulation, and social participation, all of which are important to becoming a productive adult. Proactive teamwork, quick response and effective communication are essential to help a child after brain injury to Return to Learn and Return to Play. cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury Word Document File
Go Back to Play After a Concussion: This is a concussion return to play manual created for student-athletes who do not have access to an athletic trainer to guide them through the Return To Learn (RTL) process. This manual follows the RTP process required by the Tennessee state concussion law. This resource is a way for parents or coaches to track and document the progress of their athletes. Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center
Symptom Tracker: Track Symptoms, pain level changes, what provokes and what helps. Good information to take back to the healthcare provider.
Brain Health: How to Have a Healthy Brain Throughout Life: This material provides research-based tips for creating a healthy brain, regardless of age. This guide was originally developed to help people with brain injuries recover to the fullest extent possible and to help them prevent or minimize potential negative changes as they age. However, it was quickly realized that the information in Brain Health is beneficial for everyone. Available in English & Español.
We Can Prevent Childhood Adversity Infographic
![We Can Prevent Childhood Adversity Infographic](http://<a href="https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/aces-infographic" title="ACEs Infographic"><img src="https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/aces-infographic/images/aces-infographic.jpg" alt="ACEs Infographic" style="width: 1000px; height: 9851px; border: 0px;"/></a>){kind=link}
A new CDC infographic shows the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how preventing ACEs can help create neighborhoods and communities where every child thrives. This infographic showcases data from the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study and recent findings to address the following questions:
- What are ACEs?
- How common are ACEs?
- How do ACEs affect our lives?
- How do ACEs affect our society?
- What can be done about ACEs?
ACEs are potentially traumatic events in childhood (0-17 years), such as neglect and experiencing or witnessing violence. However, types of early adversity can be stopped before they start.
Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments have a positive impact in creating positive childhood experiences. Their benefits can last a lifetime.
The HEADS UP to Schools: Online Concussion Training for School Professionals is designed to help classroom teachers (grades K-12), school administrators, paraprofessionals, teachers' aides, and other staff who work with students understand:
- How a concussion may affect a student’s learning, emotions, and behavior.
- How to identify and monitor signs and symptoms of concussion.
- How to help students successfully return to school and recover from a concussion.
This free training will take about 45-60 minutes to complete. It features easy-to-follow information with knowledge checks and illustrated case studies that showcase a variety of scenarios to help you apply the information presented and achieve the key learning objectives of the course.
Check out the CDC HEADS UP Trainings for School and Sports Professionals:
- School Professionals, Youth Sports Coaches, High School Coaches, and Sports Officials.
- Training for Health Care Providers
- Concussion Videos
CDC "HEADS UP" Fact Sheets and More: Specific concussion information for coaches, parents, officials, and teen athletes.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? CHECK OUT THE HELPFUL RESOURCES TAB!
Concussions Are Treatable: In fact, treatment may help you get better FASTER. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have had a concussion. They may ask you some questions and do simple tests. All concussions are different. Depending on your symptoms, they may treat you in their office. To learn more, explore this resource.
A Guide To Possible Changes After Brain Injury: For School-Aged Children & Adults: By design, the Guide is best when distributed by rehabilitation personnel in inpatient and outpatient therapy programs and by medical personnel in trauma units, pediatrician’s offices, family practices, neurology offices, surgical offices, and other specialty offices. It is meant to be given to anyone who has sustained a diagnosed brain injury, as well as anyone who sustained a significant trauma where they may experience brain injury symptoms and downstream consequences; even if they do not show early symptoms or early symptoms seem to have cleared. English and in Español
A Guide to Possible Changes After Brain Injury in Young Children Ages 7 & Under. Text Version
Personal Guide for Everyday Living: A tool to help people with TBI (especially mild TBI) better understand what conditions make things harder and what the person can do about it. Best if used as part of a conversation with the clinician. English and in Español.
Evidence-based Concussion Management Protocol 2023. Recommendation: 2 Visit Minimum.
A tool to guide screening, patient education, referral and ongoing monitoring. Outcomes are better if educational materials are given at the first visit.
** Use the Protocol with the TBI Toolkit for Health Care Providers.
** Explore this YouTube Video to learn more about the Protocol and other resources.
Material Rationale ~~~ Research Support
Symptom Tracker Tool : Track Symptoms, pain level changes, what provokes and what helps. Good information to take back to the healthcare provider
Concussion-Brain Injury Alert & Monitoring Form : For use in academic, school nurse or case manager file to serve as a reminder of the TBI. Also alerts others who may start working with the child.
Brainstorming Solutions Tool: Helpful template for gathering information on person's skills and challenges to facilitate development of solutions. Great for direct service providers, students and new hires.
Strategies & Accommodations Tool: Use the Brainstorming Solutions Tool (BST) first, to help you figure out the person’s strengths and weaknesses. Then use this tool (SAT) to check off the strategies that might be helpful for each area you identify on the BST. When possible, complete this form with the person served and discuss the strategies with them. Ask the person if there are other strategies or ways of communicating with them that might be helpful.
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury: Information For Families: is a compilation of four brief, helpful video clips and several state and national websites. This resource can be viewed by families while at the hospital or anyone needing to better understand this injury and where to learn more. These videos are also captioned.
English: https://youtu.be/xspCFq3MWZo
Español: https://youtu.be/wxbpHtK0byw
TN/CDC Playground Safety: This sheet will help you learn how to spot a concussion and protect your child from concussion or other serious brain injury each time you take your child on an outdoor play adventure.
TN Concussion Fact Sheet for Parents: Created from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) materials.
Brain Health: How to Have a Healthy Brain Throughout Life: By design provides research-based tips for creating a healthy brain, regardless of age. This guide was originally developed to help people with brain injuries recover to the fullest extent possible and to help them prevent or minimize potential negative changes as they age. However, it was quickly realized that the information in Brain Health is beneficial for everyone.
Salud Cerebral: Como Tener Un Cerebri Saludable Durante Toda Su Vida: Nuestro cerebro controla todo de nosotros: nuestros estados de ánimo y emociones, nuestros movimientos pensamientos y palabras. Algunos hábitos como comer alimentos chatarra, no hacer ejercicio, fumar y tomar alcohol, pueden dañar nuestro cerebro. Los hábitos no saludables pueden llevar a una pérdida temprana de memoria y de habilidades del pensamiento, y algunas veces demencia: una enfermedad que afecta la memoria, la personalidad y el razonamiento.
Check out the Helpful Resources section too for more information!
YouTube Playlist for TN Early Intervention System (TEIS): A collection of videos with helpful information regarding early intervention of TBI.
TN TBI Directory & Resource Information Guide: The Tennessee Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Service Directory and Resource Information Guide was designed to assist in locating programs, organizations, agencies, and services available across the state of Tennessee and the nation.
PBS KSPS: Born to Learn Early Childhood Documentary Series: https://www.pbs.org/video/ksps-documentaries-born-learn/
This KSPS documentary explores the fascinating science behind brain development and early learning. The brain develops most rapidly in the first three years of life, and now with new imaging technology scientists can actually watch the brain of a young child in action: how it grows, acts and reacts. What they're learning is changing the way we view Early Learning. Aired: 07/30/15 Rating: TV-G
Everyone Has What it Takes to be a Brain Builder: https://youtu.be/PB1Uo9nbIVU?si=2efYdB1hiZTgjwqa
Every time we connect with young children, it's not just their eyes that light up—it's their brains, too. Vroom helps all parents discover that they already have what it takes to boost their child's learning.
