Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:48 PM Dr. Tedd Judd - Recovering Yourself
By Patrick Carlson staff writer
ELLENSBURG — Not better or worse, just different.
“You’re this new person,” said psychologist Tedd Judd about traumatic brain injury. “How do you find out who this new person is?”
That’s the goal of neuropsychotherapy, the field Judd practices in. He spoke about the consequences of such injuries at
Judd treats people suffering from traumatic brain injury through his psychology practice. The
There are some myths that exist around ailments caused by brain injuries, he said. You don’t have to hit your head or lose consciousness to have a traumatic brain injury, according to Judd.
Loss of consciousness depends on which area of the brain is affected, he said.
It can also be difficult to even see the injury to the brain itself. Much of the damage caused by a traumatic brain injury occurs at the microscopic level, and is invisible on common brain scans, such as an MRI or CT scan, Judd said.
But the symptoms of the injuries are plentiful, according to Judd, and can affect a person’s cognitive, emotional and behavioral abilities.
“The brain is the organ of emotion,” he said.
Due to a traumatic brain injury, a person’s physical ability to communicate can be affected because of voice problems, but the emotional changes that can occur also cause problems, according to Judd. The injured can become indifferent, depressed or angry.
“It’s the anger that tends to be the biggest problem,” Judd said.
[…]
For people who have a traumatic brain injury, 1/3 get better within a week, 1/3 get better within three months and 1/3 still have problems after a year, Judd said. Among doctors, these patients are known as the “miserable minority,” according to Judd.
Ultimately, dealing with such issues is about compensation and accommodation, Judd said.
[…]
“You’ve got to learn how to live with this new brain,” Judd said.
[…]
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