Wow, we are talking about a big deal today: The frontal lobe, actually, lobes.
If you’ll remember from our initial “basics” post, we talked about how our brain is divided into a right and left hemisphere, so we have TWO frontal lobes, one on the right and one on the left:
Check out our post: https://www.lifebeyondrehab.com/post/brain-injury-basics-cerebral-hemispheres
It is responsible for so much and can be such a jerk when we hurt it!
First, let’s find it:
It is such a big deal because it sits right up front, making it a prime target for traumatic injuries. When we are in a car accident, usually our head is propelled forward. When people fall, how often have you said “They fell flat on their face”? Well, right behind your face is your frontal lobe. And to make it all worse, this is what our skull looks like on the inside:
It may be difficult to tell, but the inside of your skull is not smooth and cushy, so when your brain gets launched forward during a traumatic event (e.g. car accident, fall, blast) it is being rammed up against some really pointy bones causing even more structural damage to your unsuspecting frontal lobe.
Now, why should we care? Here are just a few of the things that our frontal lobe is responsible for:
- Decision making
- Initiation
- Emotion control
- Voluntary movement throughout the body
So, you can imagine the devastating impact of having a frontal lobe injury. If you have experience with a frontal lobe insult you might have seen some of the following:
- Difficulty with setting goals, motivation, initiating activities
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- Impulsivity
- Inattention
- Changes in personality or emotional regulation
For more information on injuries to the frontal lobe, take some time to visit:
Time to talk about function. What can we do to help?
Because an injury to the frontal lobe can result in such a wide array of difficulties, determining functional strategies that can make a difference in real life, can be endless.
For today, let’s talk a little bit about attention. Sometimes it’s enough to just start with some simple attention tasks including:
- Reading – you can set a goal for reading for 5 minutes, set a timer so you don’t over do it, and then see how well your attention lasts for that amount of time. If you feel like it goes well, next time, set the time for 8-10 minutes, slowly increasing your goal over time. Remember: Don’t push yourself too far too fast! This will also help build awareness of when you need a break and when you can keep going without ruining the rest of your day.
- Playing a card game – This can mean learning a new game or playing one that you’ve played your whole life. Some of my favorites are:
o Uno
o Solitaire
o Rummy
o Kings in the Corner
o Speed
- Answering questions about a TV show – this makes your brain take responsibility for the information it is taking in from the television rather than just watching like a zombie. Watch with a friend or family member. While the show is going on, each of you can think of different questions to ask that can include basic plot lines (e.g. “What is the problem that the main character is trying to solve?”), or can be very specific (e.g. “What color shirt was the main character wearing?”). I suggest writing down the answer in the moment so you don’t forget. Then, during the commercials, take turns quizzing each other.
Have you or your loved one experienced a frontal lobe injury? We will continue to explore different areas of difficulty that people often struggle with after a frontal lobe injury, but as always, I want to talk about what challenges specific to you.
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If you or your caregiver need help navigating life after brain injury through education, support or individualized strategies, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call at
480-881-1487
for your free 15 minute consultation – we’re here to help guide you through LIFE BEYOND REHAB.