The Impact of TBI on Behavioral and Academic Performances: Evidence-Based Behavioral and Instructional Interventions for Students

By Carolyn M. Sweeney, Lydia K. Mallah, and Jacquelyn Moultrie

This issue of NASET’s Classroom Management series was written by Carolyn M. Sweeney, Lydia K. Mallah, and Jacquelyn Moultrie. Providing behavioral and instructional interventions is cardinal for the success of students with traumatic brain injury in school. Traumatic brain injury happens by accident, which affects a child or adult who may be involved in executive function skills, leading to challenging behavior. Teachers should be cognizant of the negative impact of traumatic brain injury on students’ social skills, communication skills, academic skills, and other health-related problems to provide the appropriate behavioral interventions and evidence-based instructional interventions for the success of those children. This paper describes traumatic brain injury causes and statistical data, academic and behavioral impact, and evidence-based instructional and behavioral interventions that can be used to support students with traumatic brain injury. The paper also recommended areas of further research.