Brain Injury Case Studies

R.H.
Male, Age 36
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

R.H. experienced a traumatic brain injury from a car accident in July 2004. Before the accident he was employed as an attorney. The accident put him in the hospital for 3 weeks and resulted in damage to the frontal and left parietal lobes. His main deficits included difficulties with expressive language (aphasia) and writing (agraphia), memory, and concentration. Because his career was reliant on his language skills, memory and concentration, he was unable to continue working. This resulted in him also experiencing depression and anxiety.

The goal of the REI Custom Program was to attempt to improve his language skills, concentration, and to reduce his anxiety.

R.H. described that listening to the CDs was very enjoyable. He said that he looked forward to turning it on and “vegging out to it” and felt that it raised his energy and mood, especially for the first four days of listening to it. After 2 weeks R.H. described that his anxiety was almost non-existent. “I feel much less stressed. And I seem to be able to focus better and for longer periods of time.” His speech therapist described that his language skills were improving and he was more easily able to express his thoughts and feelings.

After twelve weeks,  R.H. was still improving in language and felt as though he would be able to eventually go back to work. Because of this feeling his mood was considerably improved and his overall anxiety was much lower than before the REI Custom Program started.  His speech therapist was continuing to see progress in his expressive language, memory and concentration.

R.H. continues to listen to his CDs and describes that when it’s playing he feels very relaxed and often falls asleep before it’s over. He also said that if he plays it when he’s working on something he can focus better and often feels he’s “in the zone”.