Computers in Rehabilitation - Fact Sheet

You would certainly think this is the case for those with a brain injury who may experience trouble with learning, concentration or sequential processes. But more and more people with a brain injury are using computers as part of their recovery process.

Michelle sustained an acquired brain injury in a motor vehicle accident. She wants to find out more about her visual Agnosia without travelling to the library. She types visual agnosia into a search engine while on the Internet and finds 6,630 topics within 0.11 seconds. Many of these topics may prove irrelevant, but the fact remains that the Internet is a valuable source of information on rehabilitation, disorders, services and personal stories.

Matthew sustained an acquired brain injury playing sport. Although he still sees his old friends, he finds that no one can really understand the changes his injury has made to his life. On the Internet he joins an email support group and now exchanges daily emails with dozens of people from around the world. Some have only recently been injured and he shares recovery tips on memory prompts. A friend from California talks of her experiences in a new rehabilitation programme. Most importantly, they all understand their common experience in a way their families and friends cannot.

The Internet is the single largest telecommunications system ever conceived by humankind. Despite this complexity the good news is that the Internet is very easy to use once you have had some basic training. All council libraries in Brisbane offer free Internet training and facilities to get people started. If you don’t have a computer this is an ideal way to begin. The Queensland State Library has a mobile Internet training service travelling throughout the state which can be reached on 1800 017 114. If you already have a computer with a modem, contact an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and they will help you get connected.

Individuals, family members and professionals are painfully aware that the most disabling consequences of brain injury are usually Cognitive and behavioural deficits. There are many rehabilitation facilities using computers in their programmes, as they are cheap, provide repeated trials, help prepare for employment, provide leisure activity and require little supervision.

There are some issues for the person with a brain injury that need evaluation such as visual acuity and coordination. There is a range of adaptive hardware such as alternative input devices, decelerator cards, voice synthesisers and screen enlargers which can assist.

Computers can increase self-esteem after an injury. For many it may provide their first opportunity to work independently since their injuries. Others feel the computer is not critical of poor performance on a task.

Computers cannot help with all deficits following brain injury but they can address the following:

If you already have a computer with a modem, contact an Internet Service provider (ISP) to get started.

Basic computer systems can be as cheap as $900 when bought from smaller stores. For beginners, it may be worth paying more at a big store if they have a help line to call for difficulties.

Many software programs can be readily found on the Internet free of charge. Software from stores can range from $10 to hundreds or thousands of dollars for very sophisticated programs. One possible starting point could be www.parrotsoftware.com. Occupational therapists can provide specific information regarding adaptive equipment, seating, and other physical accommodations that may be necessary.

If neuropsychological evaluation has been completed, that professional may be able to make recommendations about whether a computer would be useful in rehabilitation and specific software that would be appropriate.

The Internet is a wonderful resource that can prove a major aid to people with a brain injury. However a note of caution must be added. If you are using your own computer from home you will probably need to connect to the Internet through a telephone line. You will need to pay for this service so make sure that Internet costs are included in your weekly budget. The Internet is also full of interesting and tempting advertisements that can also impact on a set budget. Finally, beware of contacts made over the Internet. It is best to keep all personal information such as your address and other contact details only for those people you know well and can trust. With just a few precautions the Internet can be an exciting, informative and safe place to spend time.

The site features 8 different brain injury chat rooms, 9 message boards, stories of people’s experience with brain injury, free email accounts, poems and picture galleries. The site also features hundreds of links for information on all aspects of brain injury. You can also join their email list for updates, reminders or to find penpals.


Copyright Brain Injury Association of Queensland, Inc, Australia, 2007. This is one of a range of fact sheets made available by the Brain Injury Association of Queensland. While all care has been taken to ensure information is accurate, these fact sheets are only intended as a guide and proper medical or professional advice and information should be sought. The Association will not be held responsible for any injuries or damages that arise from following the information provided in these fact sheets. You can visit the Association’s website at www.braininjury.org.au or send emails to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it