Synopsis

  • Car accidents or sports concussions can create lasting complications that
    eventually reveal a more serious brain injury.
  • As many as 60 percent of individuals with moderate to severe traumatic
    brain injury (TBI) find it challenging to display empathy and respond
    with appropriate emotions in personal and professional relationships.
  • The inability to recognize emotions puts a significant strain on relationships,
    careers, and can impede a person’s quality of life.
  • A new app, called My Emotional Compass, was developed by an Indiana University
    School of Medicineresearcher to help survivors of traumatic brain injuries
    recognize and regulate their emotions.
  • At Wagner Reese, we understand the challenges related to treating a complex
    brain injury and support new advancements in research to provide hope
    to the many people we have worked with suffering from TBI.

Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury Need Help to Recognize and Regulate Emotions

Traumatic
brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability for 1.7 million people
living in the United States. This life-changing injury also contributes
to about 30 percent of all injury deaths, leaving victims’ families
with feelings of grief and emotional stress, and financial burdens. TBIs
are a factor in over 30 percent of all injury-related deaths even though
nearly 75 percent of all TBIs happen in the form of a concussion or other
type of mild brain injury.

Patients with TBI frequently experience damage to regions of the brain
and neural networks involved with processing emotions. As a result, many
survivors have trouble identifying, labeling and expressing their emotions,
a condition known as alexithymia. As many as 60 percent of individuals
with moderate to severe TBI experience alexithymia, making it challenging
to display empathy and respond in a socially appropriate manner in personal
and professional relationships. Patients with mild TBI also experience
this challenge.

Indiana University School of Medicine Researcher Uses App to Help TBI Survivors

With no standard, evidenced-based interventions to treat alexithymia issues,
a new app has been developed by an Indiana University School of Medicine
faculty member to help survivors of traumatic brain injuries recognize
and regulate their emotions. These skills are critical to maintaining
relationships and quality of life but too often compromised in patients
who have endured head traumas. The app, called My Emotional Compass, is
specifically designed to address alexithymia by helping patients interpret
and put words to their own feelings.

Researchers who support the project say the inability to recognize and
interpret emotions puts a significant strain on relationships and impedes
a person’s quality of life, but it is a problem that is often overlooked
as clinicians focus on immediate and long-term physical complications
of the injury. The app may continue to shine a light on the importance
of treating alexithymia and other related conditions and empowers patients
by giving them access to an effective, easy-to-use tool.

With years of experience handling
brain injury cases, Steve Wagner and Jason Reese, understand the nuances required to
succeed in complex brain injury cases and support new advancements in
research to support the many people we have worked with through our legal
practice. My Emotional Compass is available on the
Apple App Store and the
Google Play Store.

Traumatic Brain Injury Representation

Our brain injury attorneys at Wagner Reese can help restore the balance
of power, providing you the legal support and advice you need so that
you can focus on your own health and healing. Connect with us by submitting our
online form and our attorneys will review your information and respond promptly. If
you wish to speak directly with us, please call (888) 204-8440.