Some occupational therapists work closely with opthamologists and optometrists to improve visual deficits. Loss of smell and taste are common consequences of severe brain injury. Those with brain injury often complain about the taste of food and may refuse to eat. Safety education, such as checking the expiration date and temperature of food before eating, is provided by occupational therapists. Many people with moderate or severe brain injury lose the ability to move one or both of their arms or have severely decreased muscle strength and endurance.
Some people can still move their arms, but the movement is jerky and difficult to control.
Occupational therapists provide special techniques for facilitating movement in the arms and recommend special equipment to promote independence in controlling movement. The difficulty people with brain injury have in remembering new information for more than a few minutes requires the use of memory aids recommended by occupational therapists, such as day planners and organizers, alarm cueing devices, data cards, and medication-alarm containers. Living arrangements can be modified to reduce demand upon the impaired memory. Psychiatric Disorders Anxiety and depression may accompany brain injury. In addition, changes in the chemical makeup of certain parts of the brain following trauma may increase the chance of developing other psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, obsessionality, mania, and paranoia.