Helmets and Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention
International Helmet Awareness Day was on September 12, 2020. This day is part of an effort to spread awareness on the importance of helmets after US Olympic equestrian, Courtney King-Dye, experienced a traumatic brain injury while riding without a helmet. Of course International Helmet Awareness Day was before I started a blog but it isn’t too late for me to write about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and persuade you to wear a helmet while doing the sports/activities you love to do.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
TBI is brain damage caused by “a bump or blow to the head or when an object goes through the skull and into the brain” (American Speech-Language Hearing Association). TBI may cause seizures and swelling in the brain. Medical doctors treat seizures and brain swelling. Additionally, TBI can negatively affect speech, language, cognitive and swallowing, this is when speech-language pathologists (SLPs) come on the scene.
What causes TBI?
Falls
Car accidents
Being hit in the head
Violent assaults
What difficulties does a person with TBI face?
According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the Brain Injury Association of America, depending on which areas of the brain are affected and the severity of the damage, a person may experience the following:
Speech and language problems—problems being understood because of weak speech muscles (dysarthria) or problems controlling your speech muscles (apraxia of speech in adults and childhood apraxia of speech); problems understanding what others say or what you read; difficulty finding the words to say what you want or need.
Social communication issues—difficulty following conversational rules such as taking turns and not interrupting; difficulty staying on topic when speaking; saying inappropriate things; difficulty understanding nonverbal cues, like when someone shrugs their shoulders.
Swallowing problems (dysphagia)—trouble chewing, coughing and choking when you eat (swallowing disorders in adults and feeding and swallowing disorders in children).
Cognitive difficulties—difficulty paying attention, trouble remembering, and difficulty learning new information; difficulty planning, setting goals, and problem solving.
Physical difficulties—fainting, seizures, headaches, dizziness and vomiting, balance problems, and/or muscle weakness.
Sensory issues—sensitivity to lights, sound, and touch; hearing loss or ringing in the ears; changes in vision or double vision.
Emotional changes—being more emotional or feeling anxious or angry; feeling depressed or having mood swings.
Behavioral changes- difficulty controlling impulses
What is the speech-language pathologist’s role in working with an individual with TBI?
According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, an SLP will work with an individual with TBI starting from the early stages of their recovery. Depending on the individual’s needs, the SLP may help with the following in speech therapy...
Making their speech clear/easy to understand
Expressing their thoughts more effectively
Understanding what they read
Improving attention during daily tasks and activities
Improving their memory using tools like memory books, calendars, and to-do lists
Problem-solving, planning, and organization skills
Improving social skills, including reading social cues and taking turns in conversation
Safe swallowing skills when eating and drinking
Some people have trouble speaking clearly for a long time after a TBI. An SLP may suggest they use other ways to communicate, like picture boards or computers that will vocalize the message that the person with TBI entered using typed letters or selected picture symbols. This is called augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Speech therapy will help a person with TBI communicate more functionally using these tools.
SLPs also collaborate with other professionals, like rehabilitation counselors, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to help a person with TBI return to school or work and regain their independence.
How does wearing a helmet protect your brain?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO’s) Motorcycle Helmet Manual, “A helmet aims to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by reducing the impact of a force or collision to the head. A helmet works in three ways:
It reduces the deceleration of the skull, and hence the brain movement, by managing the impact.
The soft material incorporated in the helmet absorbs some of the impact and therefore the head comes to a halt more slowly. This means that the brain does not hit the skull with such great force.
It spreads the forces of the impact over a greater surface area so that they are not concentrated on particular areas of the skull. It prevents direct contact between the skull and the impacting object by acting as a mechanical barrier between the head and the object.”
Is wearing a helmet an effective way to reduce head injuries?
“Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle and bicycle crashes. ”
Yes! According to the WHO’s Motorcycle Helmet Manual , “Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle and bicycle crashes. Motorcyclists who do not wear helmets are at a much higher risk of sustaining head injuries and from dying from these injuries.”
Will any helmet do the job?
No, the helmet you wear needs to be properly fitted, needs to be worn properly, should have passed safety standards, should be meant for the sport/activity you are using it for, and should not be expired.
A participant should wear a helmet when participating in many different sports/activities (biking, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, riding a motorcycle, ice hockey, football, rock climbing etc.) so learn how to properly fit and wear a helmet for that particular activity. I figure bicycling is one of the most popular activities where a helmet should be used so I will include this bicycle helmet fitting information. I recommend physically going to a store to try on helmets and asking a worker to tell you if the helmet fits you properly.
Look up your helmet or the helmet you are considering buying here to see if it has been certified by the Safety Equipment Institute or look for the ASTM/SEI mark on the helmet.
Helmets are not interchangeable from one sport/activity to another, for example a bicycle helmet will not provide sufficient protection if you wear it horseback riding. A horseback riding helmet will not sufficiently protect your brain if you get on a motorcycle. Helmets are designed differently for different sports, are tested differently based on the sport they are made for, and there are different standards for helmets based on sport. Visit this website for more information.
Check helmet manufacturer guidelines to know when your helmet expires/needs to be replaced. You may not think to do this because a helmet is not something you eat or drink. You may think the helmet expiration dates/replacement suggestions are just a money grab to keep the helmet companies making money but that is not the case. If a helmet has been in a crash, even a minor one, replace it! You do not have x-ray vision and cannot see if the helmet has any damage after your crash, so just replace it. You also may be like me and like a good bargain but do not buy a used helmet because you do not truly know if the helmet has ever been in a crash.
Helmets need to be replaced because the materials in your helmet deteriorate over time. Read this NY Times blog for more information about when to replace bicycle helmets. While conducting my research for this blog, I just learned that if you have a Bell helmet that was damaged in an accident, you may be entitled to a discount on a new Bell helmet.
Please wear a helmet...even when you are being proposed to!
My husband in proposal stance