Brain Injury as a Form of Invisible Disability
Categories: Living with Brain Injury
Every brain injury is unique and brings with it different effects, from physical to cognitive to behavioral. Some brain injury-related outcomes are readily seen by the outside world, such as mobility impairments. Other lasting impacts, however, are only felt by the survivors themselves. In these cases, the individual is said to have an “invisible disability.”
What is an invisible disability?
An invisible disability is an informal term for any illness, impairment, or health problem that impacts the individual’s daily life but cannot be immediately seen by other people.
Are individuals with brain injuries the only type of people who can have an invisible disability?
No. There are many chronic health conditions that can go unseen and therefore fall into this category. Mental health is often categorized as an invisible disability. Other examples may include the early stages of dementia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and autism spectrum disorder.
Why is brain injury sometimes referred to as an invisible disability?
Several of the effects that may be associated with brain injury are not visible to others. Many individuals who have sustained a brain injury do not use assistive devices that would immediately signal that they have a disability. They may appear to be functioning in the same way that they did before the injury, even though they may be physically, emotionally, or cognitively impaired.
Examples of invisible symptoms commonly experienced by individuals with brain injury include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), speech difficulties, fatigue, headaches, migraines, insomnia, cognitive impairments, light sensitivity, and having trouble with short- and long-term memory.
What are some of the challenges of having an invisible disability?
Just as brain injury symptoms are different for everyone, so is the reality of living with an invisible disability. For some individuals, having an invisible disability allows them to “blend in” to the world without being forced to discuss their injury. However, it can be emotionally isolating not to share the reality of daily symptoms and struggles. The disability may feel like a secret or carry with it an emotional burden rather than being a fact of the individual’s life.
Further, for many with invisible disabilities, there are serious misunderstandings between friends, family, coworkers, and even doctors, who may look at them and not recognize their challenges. This can result in the harm of personal relationships if friends and family do not understand their disability and can even prevent those with an invisible disability from getting appropriate medical care or workplace accommodations.
Why is it important to talk about this?
For many individuals with invisible disabilities, the world does not see their challenges and therefore may not treat them with the compassion or care that they need. In discussing and understanding invisible disability, the key takeaway is that just because pain or struggle is not immediately visible does not mean it’s not there.
Read more about invisible disabilities here:
- Survivor perspective: Evelyn Anderson
- Caregiver perspective: Kelly Lang
