Disorders of Consciousness and Your Body
I. What is DOC? - A disorder of consciousness (DOC) is a diagnosis given when someone has difficulty maintaining wakefulness and/or has impaired awareness of him/herself and his/her environment due to a medical condition. For more detailed information click HERE.
II. Overview of Brain Structures and Functions - Information about types of imaging used to understand what part of the brain has been affected. Click HERE.
III. Assessment Tools - Information about different tools used to assess levels of consciousness. Click HERE.
IV. Secondary Complications - Medical complications that can occur as a result of the brain injury. Click below for more detailed information on each of these complications.
| Breathing Issues | Blood Clots | Swallowing | Hydrocephalus |
| Vital Signs | Skin Integrity | Muscle Tone | Seizures |
| Storming | Nutrition | Bowel and Bladder | Heterotopic Ossification |
V. Prognosis and Recovery - The ability to recover, and the speed at which persons with brain injury transition through each stage is variable and largely dependent upon the severity of the injury. For more detailed information click HERE.
VI. Treatment for Patients - Goals established by each therapy discipline in order to achieve desired outcomes for care. Click HERE.
VII. Tips for Caregivers - Tools and resources to assist the caregiver in providing safe care for loved ones. Click HERE.
* Please defer to the recommendations of your treatment team and use the resources found at this site as additional information to improve your skills. *
