Author Archives: amandahl

My second volunteer experience at Headway differed vastly from the first. With only a few members present, lunch was a straightforward, yet enjoyable affair. Upon entering the center, I was enthusiastically greeted by Ms. X, who I had not previously met. Her friendliness to a complete stranger such as myself was encouraging and refreshing. In the downtime before panini-making commenced, I sat and conversed with Ms. X and another member. Ms. X was quite forthright and very quickly began to tell me her story. As a young child she had sustained her acquired brain injury (ABI) from cancer, the impacts of which remain with her decades later. Despite difficulty enunciating and verbally expressing her thoughts, she remained astutely aware of this, even telling me at one point that she had poor short term memory. Imagine my surprise when she pulled up an online game of Backgammon and whizzed through it, explaining to me the rules and her strategy. This individual, who had been described to me by other members as having poor memory and attention (even forgetting how to get back from the washroom) demonstrated an ability to use working memory to plan, strategize and process numbers and scoring.

Many of my science courses emphasize treatments that are pharmacological in nature; however, medication comes with side effects and variable outcomes. I began to contemplate the concept of alternative therapies, as previously presented in class. Perhaps this game, or others, may have provided some method of informal cognitive neurorehabilitation.

Indeed, therapeutic effects of video games have been found on the physical, cognitive and social functioning of ABI patients.  Kloet et al. (2012)  tested the use of the Nintendo Wii  in children, adolescents and young adults with ABI, finding significant improvements after 12 weeks in attention, information processing speed and tasks requiring working memory and visual-motor coordination. Promising – but one must keep in mind that games played were tailored to achieving the individual goals set, and played in the presence of physical therapists, occupational therapists and neuropsychologists. While conclusions may not necessarily be generalized to casual gaming without additional rehabilitation, the benefits of alternative therapies are numerous. Despite Headway’s relaxed, non-clinical atmosphere, it seems well-equipped for simple routines, prompting me to think that possibilities for improving physical and cognitive function lie in even the most informal of set-ups.

What hidden benefits might a few rounds of billiards hold?

Headway’s vast array of art supplies made me ponder the potential and effectiveness of implementing art therapy sessions in some rehabilitation centres:

The benefits of art therapy are extensive, including relative inexpensiveness, greater entertainment than traditional therapies and self-expression that transcends aphasias or communication barriers.

Perhaps foosball with additional regimens of conventional rehabilitative therapy could aid visuomotor skills and coordination.

Even if regimented therapies are not instilled, it’s wonderful that Headway has all these amenities available, and fascinating to see members learning and improving skills in a casual context, having fun all the while.

When I heard that we would be volunteering at Headway, a flurry of thoughts and emotions coursed through my mind – excitement at the prospect of learning; curiosity; nervousness about what to expect. Having taken courses on brain function and biopsychology and after my classmates’ thought-provoking presentations, I couldn’t help but ponder those concepts in anticipation.

Would communication barriers be present if I encountered members with aphasia? How would I deal with the candor of  individuals whose brain injuries impacted their social discretion? What if, in learning about common post-TBI personality changes like aggressive tendencies, my expectations changed the way I interacted with members?

In retrospect, I suppose my inexperience did lead me to have preconceived notions of how TBI survivors appear, act or even feel. But all that dissipated upon entering the centre. I was warmly greeted by an affable young man who cordially shook my hand and directed me to the facilitator. I met the members who were present and it quickly dawned upon me that brain injury truly is unique. Its signs can be present or completely inconspicuous, causing a great deal of variation in presentation and demeanor.

For example, Mr. X had suffered a stroke-induced brain injury, leading to loss of function in some extremities, fatigue and slight cognitive deficits. However, he was a wonderful conversationalist with incredible memory. On the other hand, Mr. Y had speech impairments and frequently expressed fatigue, but enjoyed knitting using an ingenious homemade contraption – a loom built from a yogurt container and popsicle sticks (which he gleefully informed me were all diligently eaten by him). Despite my initial struggle in understanding many of his sentences, he was soon teaching me how to knit and telling me about his family.

Mr. Y’s innovative contraption!

After an hour of chatting and my shaky foray into knitting, the baking began. While some members found following the recipe instructions difficult, others carried on with ease. Some lost interest while another demonstrated task perseverance by repeatedly melting butter in the microwave. Indeed, all individuals were vastly different: some spoke fluidly while another primarily gestured as a means of self-expression. But common to all was the ability to come together in a positive space with mutual support and respect. 

Chocolate cinnamon bar – delish!

Interacting with the members was extremely interesting, as was learning how widespread the implications of brain injury are, and how varied post-TBI functioning, attitudes and even relationships can be. I furthermore noticed how their actions embodied community, when members stayed to clean, play games and chat. Their positivity was infectious, and I found myself staying an extra 40 minutes! I certainly gained new insight into the individuals who experience brain injury, the unique challenges they face, and the importance of involvement in shattering preconceptions.

A touching testimony to the friendship fostered by the Headway Centre, written by one of the members: “It’s very good to have nice friends at Headway, we are all like family here at Headway Centre Vancouver.”