Cognitive Recovery From TBI Allows For White Collar Work

Cognitive Recovery From TBI: Zach Part Thirty

We have spent a lot time talking about Zach’s remarkable physical recovery, now I want to delve into his cognitive recovery from TBI.

Have you ever had a job that was a cognitively challenging job, where you had to think and, and use your brain?

Well, this past summer I was working in a warehouse and it was full time. I’d read each UPC and find out where it was going and put in there.  So, you have to memorize all these UPCs, all these vendor styles, or all these numbers, and then you got to do math.  If we have this many this, then this many of this.  And, that I guess is the most I’ve really for a job wise.

Were you able to do that because of your cognitive recovery from TBI?

Yeah.

Did you get fatigued doing that?

I was fine.

Were you able to work a normal workday?

Yeah.

Your degree’s in journalism.  Have you ever worked in journalism?

Yeah.  I wrote articles for the local newspaper.  I write transformation articles for my gym and I’m actually doing a internship right now online – blogging, tweeting, face booking. I can do all that stuff so.

Most of what you’re doing as you describe it is probably working in a fairly quiet environment by yourself?

Yeah.  Yeah.

Have you ever worked in a newsroom?

No.

Do you think you could?

I don’t know.

How big of a problem are distractions?

I mean, I don’t think it’s too bad.  I can get my work done.

You didn’t have problems taking tests in college with your cognitive recovery from TBI because everybody else is concentrating too.  Have you ever had to do something that required concentration in a distracting place?

I had to write a couple articles for the local newspaper about Fitchburg state soccer games. I was doing that and I was in the press booth and everybody was yelling and screaming and talking so.

To view:

For more on the connection between distractions and fatigue in the workplace see http://www.subtlebraininjury.com/fatigueatwork.php

Next in Part Thirty One –

Frontal Lobe Deficits Not Apparent After Severe TBI