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How to Avoid a Charlie Foxtrot After a Traumatic Brain Injury – Part 3

Learning After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Previously, we discussed the distinction between implicit and explicit learning and how this translates into building effective rehabilitation programs. As we know, explicit learning is frequently affected and, in some cases, impossible after a traumatic brain injury.

While both types of learning lead to acquiring and mastering simple and complex skills, deficits related to attention, memory, and reasoning impact skill acquisition. Unlike explicit learning, which is highly dependent on frontal lobe functioning, there are many areas of the brain responsible for implicit learning. Because of this, it is typically preserved after a traumatic brain injury.

 

Errorless Learning

Errorless learning is a technique used to facilitate implicit learning in individuals who have experienced a frontal lobe injury. It is based on the idea that mistakes during the learning process can interfere with learning, making it more difficult for individuals to develop new skills or routines.

Evidence has shown that learning and retention of new information is possible with individuals who have moderate to severe memory impairments when errorless learning techniques are used effectively. As we dive into the key aspects of this approach, it’s important to note that the concepts are simple, but the execution isn’t easy.

A Recipe for Success