How Occupational Therapists Can Help With a Concussion

Occupational therapists play a vital role in helping individuals with a concussion, considered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), return to the daily activities that they need and want to do. Many adults with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience cognitive impairments that impact their ability to perform meaningful activities or fulfil their necessary roles at home, work, or school. Occupational therapists can assist clients in restoring, accommodating, or compensating for these cognitive impairments, that can affect one’s memory, attention, concentration, judgement, and executive function. Executive function includes planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and flexibility, among other processes. Research supports many cognitive interventions for individuals experiencing deficits in these processes post-concussion, and occupational therapists are well positioned to provide cognitive interventions supported by evidence.