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Missoula class helping those with traumatic brain injuries

Posted at 9:28 AM, Oct 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-08 13:29:33-04
Brain Injury Class
A Missoula-based class is looking to help people build a better life after a brain injury. (MTN News photo)

MISSOULA – The recovery process for people living with traumatic brain injuries can be a long one.

Even after recovery, figuring out how to move forward can be confusing but one Missoula-based class is looking to help people build a better life after a brain injury.

Fatigue, lack of concentration and difficulty with memory are symptoms of an injury but they are also side effects to a stressful life.

The class at Partnership Health Center helps people identify which behaviors come about because of a brain injury, and which behaviors were a part of the person’s life before the injury.

Experts say people tend to attribute things to a brain injury that were actually there before and by teaching healthy lifestyle habits and time management, researchers want to help people live a better life after brain trauma.

The small class size helps participants connect and support each other.

“We help people to sleep better. We help people learn new things about attention and memory, and how to best use those skills, and see if we can account for some of those things that aren’t due to brain injury,” said Brandon Stewart who is a clinical neuropsychology doctoral student at the University of Montana.

Partnership Health Center has teamed up with the University of Montana Department of Neuropsychology to put on the class. The next class is set to begin in January.