| The severity of the injury - whether it is mild, moderate | | | | disability. |
| or severe - will have a large bearing on when and if | | | | Also many times employers are nervous about hiring |
| someone is able to return to work following a | | | | someone who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. |
| traumatic brain injury. But that is only one of the | | | | Most people do not understand brain injuries and the |
| many things that will determine a survivor's ability to | | | | worry is they don't know what they're getting and |
| return to the work force. There will be many things | | | | don't wish to take a 'chance' on potential problems. |
| also that will determine their ability to hold a job even if | | | | Some survivors don't have the self-esteem, or they |
| they do manage to secure one. | | | | lack the initiative to apply for positions of |
| Those with fewer memory problems or personality | | | | employment. The fall-out for a young person |
| changes are better able to successfully obtain | | | | especially of not working further harms their feelings of |
| employment. The amount of cognitive deficits they | | | | self-esteem. This is particularly true if they have few |
| are left with, and whether they have adapted to them, | | | | leisure time interests, lack outside social contacts or |
| will play a large part in their re-entry into the job | | | | are completely dependent on their family, spouse or |
| market. | | | | caregiver. |
| Other things that will be a consideration are their | | | | Studies show that those who have a higher education |
| attention skills; ability to respond to the needs of their | | | | or an advanced level of training, are more successful |
| work environment; ability to focus; memory; reasoning; | | | | in their ability to find work - and to be able to keep it. |
| problem-solving; anger management difficulties; inability | | | | This also includes those who have had access to |
| to take initiative; problems in sustaining their behaviour, | | | | rehabilitation and especially if it was available as soon |
| and poor inter-personal relationships. | | | | after the injury as possible. |
| Age can also be a barrier to successfully returning to | | | | Unfortunately, many brain injury survivors are unable to |
| work. Employers often prefer hiring a younger | | | | return to work for various reasons and are left |
| person rather than someone who is possibly | | | | floundering - jobless and with few financial, emotional |
| considered past their 'prime' especially one who has a | | | | and physical resources. |