Invisible Trauma - Recovery from Complex Concussions

Why take this course?

Thirty percent of those with mild traumatic brain injury have a prolonged recovery. Co-morbidities also complicate the rehabilitation process and make efficient intervention challenging. This two-day advanced evidence-based course is designed for clinicians who have a basic knowledge of mild TBI and vestibular rehab and would like to improve their skills. The course goes beyond introductory concussion courses to explore the difficult differential diagnostic process that is required with complex mild TBI. The course will enable the clinican to differentiate the various etiologies of dysfunction and prioritize intervention for those patients who are not recovering as expected. The course will cover recent research and how clinical management has changed over recent years. Participants will explore the oculomotor exam as it relates to determining the etiology of impairment, including central vestibular involvement. The difficult areas of anxiety/depression, differential diagnosis of PPPD, and how to communicate about these issues with the patient and family will be discussed. Headache and cervical involvement will be addressed, including differential diagnosis of post-traumatic headache, with emphasis on differential diagnosis of migraine headache, vestibular migraine, and cervicogenic dizziness. Strategies for prioritizing intervention will be discussed, as well as when to refer to other medical practitioners for counseling psychology, neuropsychologic testing and vision assessment. Laboratory time will be provided to work on oculomotor and visual assessment and intervention skills as they relate to mild TBI. Participants will apply the material learned in small group case application for intervention planning and documentation. Participants will be able to return to their clinic with the ability to refine assessment techniques and manage patients with greater efficiency.

Course Objectives

• Describe how recent research has changed clinical practice.
• Identify typical and atypical vestibular impairments in mild TBI.
• Identify pearls and pitfalls in the oculomotor exam that are unique to complex concussions.
• Perform an oculomotor exam as it relates to mild TBI including vision screening.
• Differentiate various etiologies and triggers for post-traumatic headache that complicate recovery.
• Identify post-traumatic migraine and vestibular migraine according to established diagnostic criteria.
• Differentiate cervicogenic dizziness, anxiety and migraine in mild TBI.
• Determine the optimal time for initiating exertion training.
• Identify appropriate patients for exertion training.
• Determine intervention priorities based upon patient goals and current impairments.
• Perform a task analysis of return-to-sport functions and develop an intervention plan.
• Determine appropriate referrals to other health professional based upon comprehensive assessment and differential diagnosis.
• Apply the material presented to representative patient cases.
• Develop sample goals and documentation phrases based upon patient cases.
• Identify appropriate billing codes for reimbursement.
• Utilize correct language for documenting oculomotor impairments or vestibular dysfunction.
• Justify PT intervention for payment via functional outcomes and merit-based medicine.

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Instructed by: Laura Morris, PT, NCS

Course Dates

Not interested in the this event? The online version of this course may be included in our All Access, Annual Subscription

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