Trying to work after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might be a test in your patience. This is because a TBI is associated with memory issues. When you have trouble with your memory, it can be difficult to remember the steps for tasks. Other issues might also persist.
When it comes to job duties, employers are often very specific in what they want. If you have a TBI, you might find that you get confused about the steps. This is understandable. It means that you need to find memory management techniques that will help you as you go about the daily tasks at work.
One thing that might help is for you to ask your employer for written instructions so that you can look over them if you are having trouble remembering something. This might be considered a reasonable accommodation for you that is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
There might be times when the memory challenges are simply too much for you to handle. This is a hard spot to be placed in, but you might be able to find ways to help your memory. Repetition of a tasks’ steps or having the pictures of the steps put in order might help.
It is important to note that TBIs manifest differently in different people. You might suffer from long-term memory trouble, short-term memory loss or a combination of both. The way that you handle these challenges will depend on your circumstances. An occupational or vocational therapist can likely help you come up with a suitable technique for helping to improve your memory.
Source: Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, “Memory and Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury,” accessed April 06, 2018