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Recovery and Outcome from Acquired Brain Injury
HOW TO WORK WITH THE BRAIN-INJURED CHILD AT DIFFERENT COGNITIVE LEVELS
Level VI — Confused/Appropriate
During this stage, the child shows goal-directed behavior but still needs external structure. He is able to learn new information but may require frequent repetitions and may not generalize to new situations or people. There is an increased awareness of his own needs and of the environment.
- Use normal conversation with the child, but be very specific. Jokes and sarcasm may not be understood at this point of recovery.
- Concentration on a task should last about 10-15 minutes.
- You should not need to provide cues to help the child recall answers to orientation questions.
- It is a good idea for the child to keep a journal of daily activities. Either the child can write in it, or you can do it for them if needed. This will help with memory and reorganization of thinking.
- Motivation to continue therapies may begin to wane at this time. Be supportive of continuing the entire program. Making a chart with specific goals in short time frames and with meaningful rewards can help. Be sure to inform the rehabilitation team of the child's feelings at this point so everyone can work together to support both you and the child.