Letter from TexasBIA President, Teresa Howard. 1 st Annual Fairways to the Brain Golf Tournament October 6 th Grey Rock Golf Club

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1 Save the Date! In this issue: 1 st Annual TexasBIA Fairways to the Brain Golf Tournament October 6, 2012 Grey Rock Golf Club Austin, TX Please info@biatx.org for more information For information, contact us at: Texas Brain Injury Alliance 316 W. 12th Street, Ste 405 Austin, TX Telephone: (512) Toll Free: (800) Fax: (512) info@biatx.org Letter from TexasBIA President, Teresa Howard 1 st Annual Fairways to the Brain Golf Tournament October 6 th Grey Rock Golf Club Communication Following TBI Allison Clark, PhD 1 st Annual Texas State Tubes TexasBIA Fundraiser 28 th Annual Conference Wrap-up University of Windsor (Canada) Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Research Study QEEGS Help Diagnose Absence Seizures Ronald Swatzyna, PH.D., L.C.S.W. and Amber Pastusek, M.D. Two new online courses for persons with TBI and their families and caregivers- TIRR Memorial Hermann Membership Drive

2 Summer 2012 Dear Members, Partners, & Friends I am very excited to announce that we have recently changed the name of our organization from Brain Injury Association of Texas (BIATX) to Texas Brain Injury Alliance (TXBIA). With this change we are joining in partnership with other states across the country as a member of the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA). The mission of the USBIA is "to engage the community in preventing brain injuries and improving lives." We are excited to join with them in this effort and invite you to join with us as well. Our working board members are committed to continuing to serve the brain injury community and will be providing the same events and quality services on which we have built our reputation. We will also be adding new events and opportunities for service and education in the coming months. This organization has been a leader in educating lawmakers, providers, and survivors and our mission remains unchanged. As the Texas Brain Injury Alliance we will continue this work and will draw on new resources and partnerships to provide the very best education and services possible. We would appreciate it if you will share this exciting news with your family, friends, team members, and clients. Please help us get the word out to everyone who actively attends our events or refers to our organization that we have a new name. Our logo has changed, our new website, will be up and running soon, and we have our first event under our new name coming up in October. Watch your s for updates and feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you for being one of our valued partners! We look forward to continuing to work with you as we embrace this exciting change for our organization. Sincerely, Teresa Howard, LBSW, CBIS, CCM

3 1 st Annual Texas Brain Injury Alliance Golf Tournament Fairways to the Brain Dear Friends and Fellow Golfers, October 6, 2012 Grey Rock Golf Club Austin, TX Please join TexasBIA for a fun filled day of golf and camaraderie at Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin on October 6, Grey Rock Golf Club is a Jay Moorish designed course. Grand oaks stand like sentinels along the course, challenging doglegs that tempt you to take a risk, as well as five lakes, a marsh, and tall grass that can swallow your ball, plus plenty of bunkers to conquer. The event includes lunch, prize giveaways, and dinner. Awards will be given for the 1 st and 2 nd place teams, longest drive and closest to the pin. Golfers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to play. So bring your family, friends and coworkers and come out to support a very worthy cause. With your support, TXBIA can continue to help Texans with brain injury and their families find resources and the support they need! We are honored to have this year s banquet catered by Truluck s Seafood, Steak, and Crab House. Truluck s is consistently voted one of the best restaurants in Austin- not only for their food, but also for their customer service. Can t play in the tournament this year? Come out in the evening for a delicious meal! Please visit for registration and sponsorship information.

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5 Communication Following TBI Allison N. Clark, PhD The term social communication is often used to refer to how we vary our use of language in relation to the situation and our relationship to the other person. For example, we communicate one way when we are in a library, and a different way when we are at a baseball game. At the library, we speak softly so others are not disturbed, but can speak more loudly at the baseball game. We communicate one way when speaking with a close friend, and a different way when speaking with a new neighbor. We may talk about personal topics with a close friend, but speak about general interest topics, such as the weather, with a new neighbor. These are just some of the ways in which we vary how we communicate in order to meet the specific needs or demands of a situation. The ability to modify our communication in relation to the specific situation plays an important role in our ability to establish and maintain relationships with others. Below are some examples of social communication skills that we use in our daily interactions with others: Greeting another person Starting a conversation Selecting a topic Taking turns Listening to the other person Eye contact, use of gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice Bringing conversation to an end Persons may experience problems or changes in their social communication skills after injury. Some problems are relatively mild, while others are more severe. These changes can affect relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. If you or your loved one is experiencing problems with social communication skills, it may be helpful to talk with a rehabilitation professional for further evaluation. In particular, speech-language pathologists and psychologists often work with persons to improve their social communication skills. It may also be helpful to talk with a family member or friend to get some honest feedback about how you are doing in social interactions. Ask for feedback about things you are doing well in conversation, and about things that you could do better. It may be hard to be aware of issues one may be having when in the moment, so getting this feedback from others can help one increase awareness of communication strengths and weakness. Getting this feedback can also help identify specific skills that one wants to improve. For example, if a family member or friend gave you some feedback that you were talking too much and not giving the other person an opportunity to talk, you could practice asking questions in your next conversation to make sure you are giving the other person opportunities to talk. There are many opportunities to practice social communication skills when out in the community. For example, talking with wait staff at restaurants, shop employees, neighbors, etc, all offer opportunities to practice greeting others, maintaining good eye contact, selecting topics that match the situation, and bringing conversations to a close. Remember to talk about how those conversations went with your family or friend to get feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. Communication is a skill, so practicing these skills can help improve your overall communication and your interactions with others in the community.

6 TexasBIA would like to thank Texas State Tubes of Martindale, TX for their wonderful fundraiser. On August 11 th, they donated 30% of their Saturday tubing profits to TexasBIA and allowed us to set up a table to raise awareness of brain injury and our organization. It is our hope that this will become a regular summertime fundraiser. Thank you, Texas State Tubes! 28 th Annual Statewide Conference The Brain Injury Roadmap: Finding Your Way to Brain Health, Hope and Healing TexasBIA would like to thank all our sponsors, presenters and exhibitors for making our 28 th Annual Statewide Conference The Brain Injury Roadmap: Finding Your Way to Brain Health, Healing and Hope a tremendous success. We couldn t have done it without you! Next year s conference will build on our successes of the past. The 29 th Annual Statewide Conference will be held in Austin, April 11-12, Please save the date!

7 Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Research Study Bruce King and Dr. Lori Buchanan of the University of Windsor (Canada) are inviting individuals who provide care (i.e., emotional and/or practical support) for a family member with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to participate in a confidential online study of the mental, social, and emotional impact of TBI on survivors and family caregivers. Ultimately, the study aims to aid the development of services to improve both the wellbeing of TBI family caregivers and survivors. Each participant in the U.S. who completes the study online survey will be sent a $25 Amazon.com electronic gift card for their time and contribution. If you are interested in participating or have questions about the study please contact Bruce King by at king1e@uwindsor.ca o After participation requirements are confirmed, Bruce King will send you by an invitation to participate in the study. This invite will include a link to the online survey and an invite code (a unique password) for accessing the survey. Further information about the study can be found here:

8 A Unique Discharge Planning Option for those patients with: Acquired Brain Injury Behavioral Dysregulation Physical Disability Mission: To Develop and provide state of the art transitional, residential, and vocational rehabilitations services for individuals who have a known or suspected brain injury through a continuum of services allowing the individuals to progress to the highest functional level possible. Neuromedical Management: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Neuropsychiatry Neurology Services: Neuropharmacological Management Nursing Services Behavioral Management Physician Assistant Nurse Practitioner Rehabilitation Services: Speech Therapy Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Cognitive Therapy Psychological Services Neuropsychological Evaluation Safety Evaluations Vocational/Educational Services: Job Readiness Training Job Coaching Community Placement Touchstone s Scope of Services Short-term, post-acute residential Neurobehavioral rehabilitation Long-term or life care Outpatient services Physical rehabilitation programs Bilingual staff and services Day Programs 24-Hour Nursing Care To Schedule an Assessment or Make a Referral: or call

9 QEEGS Help Diagnose Absence Seizures Ronald Swatzyna, PH.D., L.C.S.W. and Amber Pastusek, M.D. What is a QEEG? A Quantitative Electroencephalograph, is a procedure that records electrical neuronal activity in the brain using modern technology. Dr. Swatzyna uses the information gathered from a QEEG to identify and diagnose abnormalities in brain functioning and help direct further treatment. The procedure is noninvasive and pain free. Absence Seizures, or silent seizures, are small seizures that many times go undiagnosed for years. Children who have Absence Seizures are unaware of them and miss out on the time that passes while they experience the seizure. Silent seizures happen many times a day for a few seconds at a time. For this reason children who experience absence seizures can fall behind in school, which can lead to behavioral social problems. Children experiencing absence seizures are often misdiagnosed as ADHD because the seizures they experience often make them seem distracted. When misdiagnosed, children are often put on medication that may make the seizure activity worse, and they do not respond well to typical interventions used for ADHD children. For this reason, children who have not responded well to typical interventions should be further valuated. A QEEG can help properly diagnose absence seizures. Dr. Swatzyna works with a team of scientists to get the most accurate QEEG results. Absence seizures, also called petit mal seizures, are characterized by sudden lapses of awareness lasting a few seconds. Often times they are difficult to identify and may look like the child is inattentive or daydreaming. There is no warning and no after-effect. This type of seizure affects children most commonly between the ages of 4 and 12 years old and can be the only type of seizure the child experiences. After experiencing a seizure the child has no memory of the seizure and is not confused. Children are unaware they have experienced a seizure. The symptoms are difficult for parents and teachers to catch. Children who have absence seizures can have multiple episodes in a day, leading to many problems. Falls and head injuries are common for active children with absence seizures due to the temporary lapses in awareness. Undiagnosed, Absence Seizures can lead to problems in schoolwork that may cause behavioral problems and social awkwardness. If the Absence Seizures are left unchecked children typically fall further behind as they progress through normal developmental stages. This is often seen as increased difficulty with earning and social interactions. Dr. Pastusek s Medication Information Medication may be indicated in the treatment of absence seizures when the seizures when the seizures are causing impairment in learning. Absence seizures can be easily treated with seizure medication. The first line seizure medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat absence seizures is Ethosuximide. This medication is generally well tolerated and provides the best coverage of symptoms with a lower side effect

10 profile. However if your child is unable to take this medication, Valproic Acid is the second line agent but carries a larger side effect profile. These are only two of the most common medications to help manage the symptoms of absence seizures. There are other medications to help manage the symptoms of absence seizures. There are other medications that can be used and should be discussed with your provider if needed. The good news is many children outgrow absence seizures by mid to late adolescence. Ronald J. Swatzyna, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. is the Director of Neurotherapy for the: Tarnow Center for Self--Management 1001 West Loop South, #215, Houston, Texas Tel: drron@tarnowcenter.com

11 The Rehabilitation Research Training Center on Developing Strategies to Foster Community Integration and Participation for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, TX has developed two new online courses for persons with TBI and their families and caregivers Background Cognitive and behavioral impairments, including deficits in attention, memory, executive functioning, social communication, behavioral control, and awareness, are common following TBI. There is growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for persons with TBI. However, many persons with TBI have limited or no access to brain injury rehabilitation services, including cognitive rehabilitation. Objectives The purpose of these courses is to help the person with TBI or their family member or caregiver develop strategies for the management of cognitive and emotional problems after TBI. There is a course for Caregivers of Persons with TBI and there is a course for Persons with TBI. Each course contains five modules/programs covering the following topics: 1. Communication Issues 2. Emotional and Behavioral Changes 3. Managing Attention Problems 4. Managing Memory Problems 5. Problem Solving Issues You can access these Courses by going to our web site: I am very excited to announce that we have recently changed the name of our organization from Brain Injury Association of Texas (BIATX) to Texas Brain Injury Alliance (TexaxBIA).

12 With this change we are joining in partnership with other states across the country as a member of the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA). The mission of the USBIA is "to engage the community in preventing brain injuries and improving lives." We are excited to join with them in this effort and invite you to join with us as well. This past July the Texas Brain Injury Alliance elected our new President, Teresa Howard. As a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, and Certified Case Manager, Mrs. Howard brings to our organization a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of brain injury rehabilitation. She has been a compassionate advocate in this field for several years. TexasBIA is excited for her to lead our efforts towards the prevention of brain injury and the improvement in the lives of survivors. In conjunction with the recent changes to our organization we have made it our goal to recruit new members and expand our organization to best meet the needs of the brain injury community in Texas. We need your assistance in this! Whether it is volunteering a few hours of your time at one of our fun filled fundraisers, passing along educational material in the community, or even becoming a board member of this amazing organization now is the time to jump aboard! Whatever your availability, we are committed to getting you involved of this amazing organization. Please contact our office at or visit our new website to learn about upcoming opportunities. Thank you for your commitment to the brain injury community and I personally look forward to meeting with you in person! Sincerely, Amy Wcisel, LMSW, CBIS, CCM Texas Brain Injury Alliance, Nominations Chair Membership Drive: Get Involved! From the strength of each we have the power of many to make a difference in the lives of 440,000 Texans disabled by a TBI. By getting involved with TexasBIA you join a passionate active group of members, volunteers and sponsors who are making a big difference in Texas. TexasBIA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is a statewide membership organization of people with brain injuries, family members, friends and professionals. TexasBIA is part of a network of Brain Injury Associations across the United States, and is an affiliate of the national United States Brain Injury Alliance. Benefits for You Comprehensive treatment and recovery resource listings Learning and networking opportunities for professionals and families Updated information with regular TexasBIA e-newsletters Discounts for events

13 Opportunities to voice your needs and concerns Direct access to public policy advocacy in Texas Texas legislative action alerts Membership fees are: $35.00 for Individual/Family $50 for Professional $250 for Corporate Membership Please contact us at or for more information The Brain Injury Association of Texas is grateful for all the support it receives and for the contributions provided for inclusion in this newsletter. But it should be understood that BIATX does not endorse any entities mentioned herein and has undertaken no efforts in assessing any representations or claims.