Headway of WNY, Inc.

• Home
• About
  • History
  • Mission
  • Newsletter
  • Life Stories
  • People Inc.
  • Staff
  • Contact Us
• Covid-19 Pandemic
• Headway Virtual Connection - #1
• Headway Virtual Connection #2
• Waiver Services
  • TBI Waiver Services
  • TBI Waiver Application Process
  • TBI Referral
  • Become a TBI Provider
  • NHTD Waiver Services
  • NHTD Waiver Eligibility
  • NHTD Waiver Application Process
  • NHTD Referral
  • Become a NHTD Provider
• Support Groups
• Helpful Links
• Education and Outreach
  • Annual Meeting
  • Educational Speakers
  • Community Outreach
• How to Help
  • Fundraisers
  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Advocacy
• Virtual Silent Auction
• Caregivers Resources
• Brain Injury Information
  • Know the Facts 2021
  • Brain Injury and the Body
  • Causes of Brain Injury and Concussion Information
  • Prevention
  • Helmets
  • When Your Child is Injured
  • Returning to School after Brain Injury
  • TBI vs. Learning Disabilities
• Veterans
• Veterans Events Bulletin

Differences for Children with TBI vs. Learning Disabilities

Is there a different between children with a Traumatic Brain Injury than children with a Learning Disability or Emotional Deficits?
Yes. First, to keep in mind is that TBI affects each child differently.

Areas of Difference

Onset

TBI: Sudden
Learning Disability: Early or from birth

Emotional Deficits: Slow, reactive to environment

Cause

TBI: One or more blows to the head accompanied by altered mental status may or may have not loss of consciousness. Interference of oxygen or blood reaching the brain.
Learning Disability: Unclear

Emotional Deficits: Unclear

Functional Changes

TBI: Marked contrast between capacities pre- and post of a TBI can include memory loss, reduced processing speed and impaired executive functions.
Learning Disability: No before-after contracts in capacities.

Emotional Deficits: Change in functioning emerge slowly and gradually.

Physical Disabilities

TBI: May include loss of balance, weakness, paralysis, visual/sensory changes and headaches.
Learning Disability: Poor conditions is the most frequent impairment.

Emotional Deficits: Physical disabilities unlikely.

Emotional Difficulties

TBI: May have labile mood, depression and anxiety frequently found.
Learning Disability: Prone to outbursts related to situations.

Emotional Deficits: Reactions attributable to distortions of reality.

Behavioral Difficulties
TBI: Unpredictable: Possible agitation, aggressiveness, restlessness and impulsivity.
Learning Disability: Restlessness and impulsivity.

Emotional Deficits: Reactions attributable to distortions of reality.

Awareness of Deficits
TBI: Limited to full awareness
Learning Disability: Typically aware

Emotional Disability: Varies

Skills and Knowledge
TBI: Pre-TBI learning is largely intact.
Learning Disability: Splintered and underdeveloped.

Emotional Disability: Acquisition may be limited by emotional difficulties.

Difficulties with Learning
TBI: Old information is easier to recall than new.
Learning Disability: New learning can be linked with past learning.

Emotional Disability: New learning can be linked with past learning.

Academic Deficit
TBI: Based on disrupted cognition.
Learning Disability: Based on type of learning disability.

Emotional Disability: NOT based on impaired cognition.

Peer Interactions
TBI: Affected by cognitive deficits, behavioral difficulties and reduced social skills.
Learning Disability: Affected by poor social skills.
Emotional Disability: Affected by behavioral difficulties.

• Facebook