Patient and Family Resources

TBI Awareness Fact Sheet

This fact sheet describes the main causes of TBI and the importance of prompt and proper treatment.

Line Leader Policy Guidance Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides instructions for line leaders and commanders on when to evaluate service members involved in potentially concussive events in deployed settings.

What You Should Know About Concussions Fact Sheet

This fact sheet is designed to educate deployed service members about traumatic brain injuries immediately after concussion injury.

Concussion Signs and Symptoms Fact Sheet

This fact sheet identifies major physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms of concussion and provides coping and recovery tips. Also available in Spanish.

Healthy Sleep and TBI Fact Sheet

This fact sheet offers patients who experience sleep problems relating to TBI with healthy tips that can likely improve their sleep.

Managing Headaches Following Concussion/mild TBI Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides non-drug options to help those diagnosed with a mild TBI and associated post-traumatic headache manage their symptoms. 

TBI and PTSD Fact Sheet

This fact sheet defines concussion/mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder and explains how overlapping symptoms often occur. It also describes why it’s important to seek out treatment for both conditions and provides helpful advice on what to tell your family and friends to help in the recovery process.

TBI and Changes in Behavior, Personality or Mood Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can be used to educate patients with concussion/mild TBI on how to manage changes in mood related to their injury.

Ways to Improve Your Memory Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can be used to educate patients with concussion/mild TBI on how to manage memory problems related to their injury.

Head Injury and Dizziness Fact Sheet

This fact sheet can be used to educate patients with concussion/mild TBI on how to manage dizziness related to their injury.

Managing Neck Pain Fact Sheet

Neck pain can occur together with headaches following a concussion. This fact sheet provides information to help patients manage neck pain.

Vision Problems After Concussion Fact Sheet

This guide helps concussed service members understand vision problems and provides insight into treatment options.

Help with Ongoing Symptoms After Concussion

This guide addresses why symptoms continue to persist in some patients and how they can cope or seek additional help. Although the majority of service members recover from concussion with little to no intervention, some experience symptoms beyond the first three months after their initial injury.

HEADS: Protect Your Strongest Weapon

The HEADS acronym helps promote awareness of the key symptoms of concussion/mild TBI.

Back to School: Guide to Academic Success After Traumatic Brain Injury

This booklet provides guidance to service members and veterans who have ongoing symptoms from a TBI and are going to college, university or vocational school. It gives answers to common questions about accommodation plans, financial aid and assistive technology.

TBI may cause physical, cognitive and behavioral changes that can be difficult to adapt to for both the individual and family members. These changes are usually temporary, but in some cases recovery becomes a lifelong process of adjustments and accommodations for the injured person and the family. People with TBI can lead joyful and meaningful lives with the aid of friends and loved ones who can provide ongoing support and encouragement.

A comprehensive caregiver guide is under revision with TBICoE and is expected to be released in Spring 2021. Email the TBICoE education branch for more information.

Taking Care of Yourself While Caring for Others Booklet

This guide provides coping techniques and self-care advice to those caring for a service member or veteran with a TBI.

Addressing Family Needs Booklet

This booklet provides loved ones with the tools, techniques and guidance to understand the changes their service member or veteran may experience after a TBI.

This booklet highlights:

• Building stronger family ties
• Improving communication
• Transitioning home
• Driving after a TBI
• Avoiding substance abuse

Talking With Children About TBI Booklet

This guide offers communication techniques to parents or guardians who are struggling to help their children understand the changes in a loved one who sustained a TBI. It features specific communication techniques based on the age and stage of development of the child.

Talking With Children About Moderate or Severe TBI Booklet

This guide offers communication techniques to parents or guardians who are struggling to help their children understand the changes in a loved one who sustained a moderate or severe TBI.

A Parent's Guide to Returning Your Child to School After a Concussion Booklet

Car crashes, playground falls and sports injuries cause thousands of concussions a year among children. This guide offers practical advice to parents on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, information on treatment and recovery, and what a parent can do to support a child’s recovery and successful return to school. This guide will help parents address common questions:

• How soon should my child return to school after a concussion?
• When will my child feel better?
• What can I do to help?