Can I ever go back to work after a brain injury such as a stroke or a TBI?

Going Back to Work After a Brain Injury

A Guide for Patients, Families, Employers, and Friends

If you or someone you love has had a brain injury, like a stroke or TBI, you may be wondering:

“Will I or they be able to work again?”

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I hear this question frequently. The answer is not the same for everyone, but here is the hopeful truth:

👉 Many people can return to work after a brain injury.👉 It may take time.👉 It may look different than before. And there can be support along the way.

For Patients: What You Should Know

After a brain injury, your brain is healing. Healing takes energy.

You might notice:

• You get tired faster

• Thinking feels slower

• Words don’t come out right

• Memory is tricky

• Busy places feel overwhelming

This does not mean you are weak or lazy. It means your brain is working hard to heal and to relearn skills.

💡 Tip: Going back to work is not a race. Many people do better when they start slow—like part-time or with shorter days.

For Families: How You Can Help

Families often want to help, but don’t always know how.

Here are some ways you can support your loved one:

• Be patient with repeat questions

• Help with notes, calendars, or reminders

• Give breaks during conversations

• Celebrate small wins (they matter!)

Try not to say:

• “You look fine.”

• “Just try harder.”

• “You used to do this easily.”

Brain injuries are invisible. Healing still counts.

What Does Speech Therapy Have to Do With Work?

Speech therapy is about more than talking.

SLPs help with:

• Memory and attention

• Understanding and sharing ideas

• Reading, writing, and typing

• Problem solving

• Social skills at work (like meetings and conversations)

We also teach tools and strategies so the brain doesn’t have to do all the work alone. Even healthy brains love reminders and lists!

Tips for Employers: Small Changes Make a Big Difference

Employers play a huge role in success.

Helpful supports may include:

• Flexible hours or part-time work

• Written instructions (not just spoken)

• Quiet work spaces

• Extra time for tasks

• Clear expectations

• Regular check-ins

🧠 Think of it this way:The brain is healing, not broken. Support helps it work better.

More Workplace Accommodation Ideas

Small Changes That Help the Brain Do Its Job

After a brain injury, the brain may need a little extra support at work. These supports are called accommodations. They are not special treatment. They are smart tools.

Here are examples that often help people after a stroke or TBI:

🕒 Schedule Supports

• Starting with part-time hours

• Shorter workdays

• Extra breaks to rest the brain

• Flexible start times (mornings can be hard)

🧠 Memory & Organization Supports

• Written instructions instead of only spoken ones

• Checklists for daily tasks

• Calendars or reminder apps

• Notes after meetings

• One task at a time instead of multitasking

(Yes, many people without brain injuries also love these!)

🏢 Work Environment Supports

• Quiet workspace

• Noise-canceling headphones

• Fewer interruptions

• Working from home when possible

• Clear desk setup

Busy brains get tired faster.

🗣 Communication Supports

• Extra time to answer questions

• Slower-paced meetings

• Allowing notes during conversations

• Email follow-ups after verbal instructions

• One main contact person for questions

Clear communication = less stress.

📋 Task & Role Adjustments

• Lighter workload at first

• Longer time to finish tasks

• Help with planning or organizing work

• Adjusted job duties

• Training spread out over time

Healing brains need practice, not pressure.

❤️ Supportive Work Culture

• Regular check-ins with a supervisor

• Clear expectations

• Patience with mistakes

• Positive feedback

• Understanding that fatigue is real

A kind workplace helps recovery.

A Helpful Reminder for Employers

Accommodations often:

• Improve job success

• Reduce mistakes

• Lower stress

• Help employees stay at work longer

Supporting brain health is good for everyone.

Tips for Friends: What Really Helps

Friends often want to help but worry about saying the wrong thing.

Here’s what helps most:

• Be patient in conversations

• Give time to answer

• Reduce distractions

• Keep plans simple

• Understand cancellations happen

• Treat the person the same, just kinder

What helps least:

• Finishing sentences

• Rushing

• Saying “You’ll be back to normal soon”

A better message is:“I’m here. Take your time.”

A Little Humor (Because Healing Is Hard)

I often tell patients this:

🧠 Your brain is like a computer after a big update. Some things work great. Some things take longer. And sometimes you need help clicking the right button.

That’s okay. That’s healing.

Final Thought From a Speech Therapist

Brains heal best when they feel safe, supported, and understood.

With the right accommodations, many people after a brain injury can work, contribute, and succeed, just in a slightly different way than before.

And different does not mean less valuable.

Going back to work after a brain injury is not about being the same as before.

It’s about:

• Finding what works now

• Using support

• Taking breaks

• Being kind to the brain

With time, therapy, support, and understanding people around them, many individuals find their way back to work—and to a life that feels meaningful again.

And yes… sometimes even back to real pants.

More resources:

workplace safety

Family Caregiver Alliance

 If you’re on this journey, or supporting someone who is: I see you. And you don’t have to go it alone.

Speech therapy is about more than therapy. It’s about restoring connection, confidence, and purpose.

Let’s build a life that’s rich in participation, not just in recovery.

Helpful and Free Resources:

Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA)

Have Questions? I’m here to help—whether you’re a family member, care-provider, or a speech language therapist. Drop a comment, send a message, or give us a call!

Learn more about speech-language-voice-cognitive-swallow therapy or what we do as speech language pathologists, and our in home and virtual private speech therapy settings:

call/text us at 818.823.8022 or email us at hello@thechatroomtherapy.com.

We provide virtual speech therapy visits/telehealth visits in California, and in home services in Montrose, La Crescenta, La Canada, and Pasadena, CA areas.

We also provide speech therapy in Mandarin Chinese. 中文/國語語言治療

Vicki Chia Hui Lin, M.S., CCC-SLP

Founder, The Chat Room Therapy

Vicki is a California licensed and American Speech Language and Hearing Association certified speech language pathologist. She is a highly accomplished and award-winning Speech-Language Pathologist and an educator with extensive experience with both adults and children, with particular specialties in gender affirming voice therapy, adult voice disorders, post stroke or head and neck cancer related voice, communication, cognitive, and swallow difficulties.  Vicki has received various accolades, and is recognized for her excellence in patient care, life participation therapy approaches, education, and leadership in the field.

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