Today on The Brain Injury Insider, I want to call your attention to an important breakthrough in the management of traumatic brain injury:

The development of outpatient clinical practice guidelines designed to standardize care for the millions of Americans recovering from TBI.

Although protocols exist for emergency care and hospital management of people with a brain injury, no protocols exist regarding outpatient management following emergency care or inpatient hospital care, and no guidelines exist for individuals who never were seen in a hospital.

Patient care following a traumatic brain injury is inconsistent, fragmented and often inadequate. This includes people suffering from concussions as well as other types of brain trauma.

Less than half of individuals with a TBI receive any follow-up care after they leave the emergency department.

Failing to provide follow up care contributes to prolonged symptoms, unnecessary disability, and missed opportunities for early intervention.

To address this, the Action Collaborative on TBI Care, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released evidence-based guidelines that focus on the first six months after injury. These new guidelines are published in the Annals of Family Medicine to make outpatient care predictable, effective, and patient-centered.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/e7EsYpmdB08

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

Today, I’d like to discuss a new study examining treatment options following the development of a traumatic subdural hematoma, a condition when blood collects rapidly on the surface of the brain.

This bleeding may cause pressure on the brain and lead to worsening injury, cognitive impairment, and even death.

Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury, particularly among older adults and children. A slip, trip, a misstep can lead to a blow to the head, or the sudden deceleration of the brain when it moves inside the skull, causing damage to brain tissue and blood vessels within the brain.

In an article published in the JAMA Journal entitled “Acute Surgery vs Conservative Treatment for Traumatic Acute Subdural Hematoma,” researchers looked at data from 18 Level-1 trauma centers across the U.S. They focused on over 700 patients who had developed an acute subdural hematoma after head trauma.

The big question: Do centers that usually operate early have better outcomes than those that lean more toward nonoperative, or conservative, management?

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQpIrPulRfw

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

Today, we’re tackling an often-overlooked issue in forensic neuropsychology: the assessment of Spanish-speaking adults.

As the Hispanic population in the United States continues to grow, lawyers and experts face new challenges when language and culture intersect with brain injury evaluations. These issues were raised in an interesting article in published in the journal Brain Injury entitled “Considerations in the Neuropsychological Assessment of Spanish-Speaking Adults”

The issues identified are pertinent to all foreign speaking clients undergoing a neuropsychological assessment.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3beD1uXz1sI

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Dr. King—a visionary leader whose moral courage and unwavering commitment helped move our nation closer to justice, equality, and dignity for all.

Dr. King taught us that the pursuit of justice is not confined to history books or holidays. It is an ongoing obligation that demands vigilance, compassion, and action.

At De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, we are guided by the belief that every person deserves to be heard, respected, and protected under the law—regardless of background or circumstance. On this day of reflection, we reaffirm our commitment to the values Dr. King so powerfully championed:

• Justice
• Equality
• The relentless pursuit of what is right

Because equal rights must include equal access to justice.

This is a responsibility we take seriously every day.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW93Khmp8OI

Find out more about our brain injury advocacy at https://brainlaw.com

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

Words matter—especially when it comes to brain injury.

In this episode of The Brain Injury Insider, we discuss a new joint statement from leading brain injury organizations that aims to improve how brain injury is defined, discussed, and understood across medicine, law, policy, and public life.

The guidance, titled “Communicating About Brain Injury,” was released by the Brain Injury Association of America and partner organizations to address outdated and often harmful language surrounding brain injury—including the overuse of “mild, moderate, and severe” labels.

Key topics include:
• Why traditional “severity” labels are misleading
• Brain injury as a chronic, lifelong condition
• Traumatic vs. non-traumatic (acquired) brain injury
• Twelve core principles for communicating about brain injury
• How language affects insurance claims, access to services, clinical care, and legal outcomes
• The importance of centering people with brain injury as whole individuals

Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, clinician, researcher, legal professional, or advocate, this conversation is essential.

Organizations involved in developing the guidance include:
• The Brain Injury Association of America
• The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM)
• The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
• The North American Brain Injury Society
• PINK Concussions
• The TBI Model Systems

As a past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and former chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, I commend these organizations for advancing this important work.

Read the full guidance here:
https://biausa.org/CommunicatingAboutBrainInjury

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuC69k85hY

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

The holidays (Christmas and New Year) can bring a mix of emotions—joy, reflection, and sometimes real difficulty, especially after a traumatic or serious injury. In this message, brain injury attorney Michael Kaplen shares gratitude for survivors, caregivers, professionals, and colleagues, and offers encouragement, peace, and hope as we look ahead to 2026.

Resources:
Michael Kaplen: https://brainlaw.com/about/michael-kaplen/
Shana De Caro: https://brainlaw.com/about/shana-de-caro/
brain injuries: https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/traumatic-brain-injury-guide/
De Caro & Kaplen, LLP: https://brainlaw.com/
contact De Caro & Kaplen, LLP: https://brainlaw.com/contact-us/

If you’re navigating recovery—mobility, memory, cognition, emotions, or daily life—we see your strength and honour your resilience. May you find moments of peace and connection this season, and renewed hope in the year ahead.

Subscribe for more updates from The Brain Injury Insider.

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

As we gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to reflect on what this season means for all of us—gratitude, connection, and the small but powerful ways we show up for one another.

Thanksgiving reminds us that gratitude is more than just something we feel; it’s something we practice. It’s found in the care we extend, the compassion we show, and the support we offer, especially during times of challenge.

In my work representing individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury, I am reminded every day of the incredible strength of the human spirit.

The courage, resilience, and determination of survivors need to be acknowledged during this holiday season.

It is a privilege to stand beside those navigating life after a brain injury and to advocate for their dignity, rights, and well-being.

But as joyful as the holidays can be, they can also bring mixed emotions, particularly for people living with a disability or the lasting effects of a brain injury.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJBV1NjI1B0

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com

Today I want to discuss a recent study with potentially wide implications for anyone who plays soccer — even at the amateur level — and even for those who have never been diagnosed with a concussion.

Heading a soccer ball repeatedly might damage your brain, even if you never are knocked out, see stars, or diagnosed with a concussion.

In one of the largest studies yet to look at the effects of soccer headers in non-professional players researchers found:

Players who had repeatedly headed a soccer ball showed changes in a part of the brain called the gray-white matter interface, an area located in the orbitofrontal region. An area just behind the eyes.

When the skull is struck and then the brain bounces around the interior of the skull, this region of the brain is sensitive to injury.

The brain changes found on testing were related to memory and learning.

Importantly, many of these players had no history of diagnosed concussion.

Researchers concluded that the damage to the brain is cumulative and related to the repetitive hits.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClsOESvmUcQ

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP.

Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017
Toll Free: (866) 272-4652
e: help@brainlaw.com
brainlaw.com