Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

As reported in an earlier edition of Policy Corner, BIAA submitted comments to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in June specifically regarding the fourth priority included in the proposed plan for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) entitled, “Developing Strategies to Foster Community Integration and Participation for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury.”

BIAA expressed strong support for the inclusion of a brain injury related research priority. However, BIAA also detailed some concerns related to the strategies used in the priority to foster community integration and participation for affected individuals. As proposed, this priority would develop a classification system based on symptoms experienced by individuals with TBI who are living in the community.

BIAA explained that no two brains are alike and each and every individual presents with different symptoms, and each injury results in different challenges. Therefore, trying to categorize these injuries could be counterproductive to the priority’s goal.

In response to BIAA and other stakeholders who also submitted concerns, NIDRR has revised some of its proposed priority to reflect the suggestions that were offered. The discussion and changes made by NIDRR in response to the stakeholder comments are:

Discussion: “NIDRR agrees that there is a great need for community integration and participation (CIP) interventions in TBI. Our reading of the research literature suggests that better characterization of symptom variations within research samples might contribute substantially to improved accumulation of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of interventions. In response to the concerns of commenters that it would be difficult for one RRTC both to develop and test interventions and to develop a TBI classification system, we reordered the priority requirements to emphasize the testing of interventions and we eliminated some of the prescriptive requirements related to the development of a TBI classification system. Although we reduced the number of requirements for the development of a TBI classification system, we expect applicants to propose and justify the steps they will take to accomplish this task. The peer review process will determine the merits of each proposal.”

Changes: “We have revised the priority by reordering the priority requirements, eliminating the requirement for expert input into the classification system, and eliminating the requirement for the development of a manual for use of the classification system. Also, in response to this comment and related comments, discussed below in greater detail, we have revised the priority by decoupling the testing of interventions from the classification system, eliminating the
numerous examples of symptoms, eliminating the requirement for a short version of the classification system, and eliminating the requirement for a literature review.”

BIAA is thrilled to see these changes implemented and will continue to monitor the process going forward. For further reading click on the link below:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17924.htm