Duke Speech Pathology provides unique and comprehensive services to adult and pediatric patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Our speech-language pathologists offer screenings, evaluations, care, and education for patients who have had a traumatic brain injury that affects their speech, language, cognition, hearing, and swallowing abilities.

Screening

Adult and pediatric patients with a potential traumatic brain injury on certain hospital services are screened by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) within 24 hours of admission. This screen identifies patients who may be at risk for problems resulting from a traumatic brain injury.

Patients who pass the screen receive education about traumatic brain injuries and resources to contact if they experience any problems. Patients who demonstrate difficulty with one or more items on the screen receive a full evaluation.

Inpatient Evaluation

A full speech-language-cognitive evaluation is performed with patients in the hospital to identify problems resulting from traumatic brain injury.

Specifically, patients may have difficulty with memory, attention, problem solving, organization, behavior, or other areas. Once areas of strength and difficulty are identified, education is provided to the patient and family, and therapy is started in the hospital.

This early intervention allows patients to begin therapy immediately and start the recovery process. It also provides important information to the medical team on the next steps to take once the patient leaves the hospital including appropriateness for acute rehab, changes to be made at school, or outpatient follow-up appointment scheduling.

Outpatient Follow-Up

The SLP will make recommendations for most patients to return for a follow-up evaluation close to a month after discharge. Many times, patients and families don’t realize how traumatic brain injury will affect their home, work, school, and social lives until they return home.

The effects of traumatic brain injury may be severe or subtle. This appointment allows patients and families to express these needs and receive help in the form of ongoing therapy or referral to another service.

Education

Education about traumatic brain injury and how it impacts patients and families is provided from initial patient contact and throughout the continuum of care at Duke.

For more information about traumatic brain injury, see our adult traumatic brain injury care guides and our pediatric traumatic brain injury care guides.

Appointments

If you have questions, would like to schedule an appointment, or to speak with someone about the Duke Traumatic Brain Injury Program, please contact 919-684-3859 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.