Life After Head Injury: The Experiences of Twenty Young People and Their Families [Hardcover]

Jane Hubert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995

This is the story of men and woman who have suffered a severe head injury, and their struggle to return to the life they led before the accident. The book follows these young people and their families over a period of a year, and highlights the serious problems and repercussions that head injury can have on family life and relationships. It reveals the lack of adequate help and support from Health and Social Services, and suggests ways in which this dire situation might be improved. Based on a study of 20 families, the story is often told in the words of the young head injured people themselves, and of their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. It it useful for all those involved in the planning and provision of services in the community, and should be of interest to anyone who has suffered a head injury, and to their families and friends.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 110 pages
• Publisher: Avebury (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859721486
• ISBN-13: 978-1859721483
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,852,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Life after head injury, April 8, 2002

By 

Colin Shieff (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life After Head Injury: The Experiences of Twenty Young People and Their Families (Hardcover)

I am a consultant neurosurgeon and received a complimentary copy of this book through the local branch of Headway.

This is an interesting and noteworthy little book which considers, quite literally, life after head injury. The author has selected twenty case studies to demonstrate the problems that often confront survivors of severe brain injury after the acute situation has passed and rehabilitation is deemed complete. She provides an insight into the mental, physical and social frustrations that present after the initial hurdle of survival has been overcome. The examples used relate as much to the medical issues as to the logistical nightmares and to the (unfortunately) not too infrequent lack of knowledge of those caring professionally. The stories are brought to life by using direct quotations from the individuals themselves.

Although the descriptions used are rather simplistic they quite adequately bring to reality the horrific problems of coping, being understood and finding support that people may have in this situation. The effects on parents, siblings and on relationships in general are explored and elucidated for those who may not otherwise have any reason to understand these things.

I am not entirely certain who the intended readership is. Patients and their familes who have experienced these things first hand would not necessarily benefit although it is often helpful to know that someone else knows what is going on. It should certainly be made available to those who have occasion to care acutely, that they may better be able to answer some of the "what ifs" that seem never to be answered adequately at the time. With its brief bibliography it would also be useful starting point to those proposing a study on the subject.

Ideally I feel this short book should be compulsory reading for those charged with planning and implementing health care provision as it affects those suffering head injuries and their families. Although this review is written some years after the intial publication date, little has changed in the provision of support for this cinderella group of patients.