More Than Just Recovery: Understanding and Supporting Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any brain damage that occurs after birth. It can result from trauma, stroke, lack of oxygen, infections, substance use, or even some chronic illnesses. Unlike developmental or congenital brain injuries, ABIs often bring sudden and life-altering changes, and the road to recovery or adjustment is rarely linear.
Understanding ABI means acknowledging the complexity of its effects—not just on the individual, but on their relationships, independence, communication, and sense of self. It also means recognising that support looks different for every person and can change over time.
What Is an Acquired Brain Injury?
ABI is a broad term that covers any damage to the brain that occurs after birth. Common causes include:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Often from a blow to the head, such as in a car accident or fall.
Stroke: Where part of the brain is damaged due to lack of blood flow.
Infections: Like meningitis or encephalitis.
Lack of oxygen: For example, after a near-drowning event.
Substance-related damage: From long-term alcohol or drug use.
Tumours or surgery: Including treatment-related damage to healthy brain tissue.
Some effects are immediately visible, while others are hidden, emotional, or cognitive—and can emerge slowly over time.
Common Impacts of ABI
ABI can affect many aspects of life. Some people may experience physical changes, while others notice shifts in their thinking, memory, behaviour, or emotional regulation.
Effects may include:
Cognitive changes: Difficulty with attention, memory, planning, or problem-solving.
Physical impacts: Changes in movement, coordination, fatigue, or speech.
Emotional challenges: Increased frustration, mood swings, or mental health concerns.
Behavioural changes: Impulsivity, agitation, or differences in social awareness.
Sensory issues: Sensitivity to light, noise, or crowded spaces.
It’s important to remember that no two brain injuries are the same—even two people with the same diagnosis might have very different experiences.
The Role of Support Workers
Support workers can make a significant difference in the lives of people with ABI, especially when care is consistent, person-centred, and responsive to changing needs.
Helpful strategies include:
Using visual aids or memory tools to support recall and daily routines.
Offering calm, consistent communication and avoiding sensory overload.
Supporting emotional regulation by allowing space for frustration or fatigue.
Adapting plans on the fly—some days might be more challenging than others.
Collaborating with therapists to reinforce rehab or mobility goals.
Avoiding assumptions—just because someone looks fine doesn’t mean they’re not struggling internally.
Building trust is essential. Many people with ABI are still adjusting to a “new normal” and may feel grief, frustration, or shame about changes they didn’t choose.
Rethinking Independence and Identity
ABI often results in a sudden shift in identity—someone who was highly independent may now need help dressing, communicating, or navigating relationships. That can be incredibly disorienting.
Support workers and families can help by:
Encouraging decision-making and agency in daily routines.
Respecting the person’s preferences, even if they differ from what’s “easiest.”
Celebrating progress, no matter how small.
Avoiding infantilising language or behaviour.
Being present, patient, and validating the individual’s experience is often more powerful than trying to “fix” anything.
Long-Term and Invisible Needs
ABI isn’t always temporary. Some people recover significantly over time, while others live with lasting changes.
Invisible impacts—like memory problems, emotional dysregulation, or fatigue—can make it harder to access services, maintain relationships, or engage in work and community life.
Support may involve:
Helping clients communicate their needs to employers, educators, or service providers.
Navigating NDIS access and planning, particularly when injuries affect cognition or planning capacity.
Being an advocate when invisible disabilities are misunderstood or dismissed.
Final Thoughts
Living with an acquired brain injury means more than recovering from a medical event. It’s a deeply personal process of rebuilding identity, redefining goals, and navigating relationships and systems that may not fully understand the complexity of brain injury.
Support workers, family members, and allied health professionals each play a role in creating safe, respectful, and empowering environments where people with ABI can thrive—on their own terms, and at their own pace.