Like NFL football players, victims of domestic violence often suffer brain trauma, but with little attention. While concussions are a hot topic in sports, neurologists at Barrow Neurological Institute have taken an additional special interest in concussions and domestic violence. Barrow has created a novel domestic violence and traumatic brain injury program that is focused on the many victims of domestic violence who have sustained brain injuries as a result. The women who previously suffered silently are becoming more aware of the real issue of concussions from their abuse.

The Barrow program, which provides medical care for homeless victims who have sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of domestic violence, was created after a Barrow doctor and social worker identified a 3-way link between homelessness, domestic violence and TBI. The medical team has found that many of these victims are suffering from a full spectrum of side effects that can lead to the loss of a job, income, and eventually homelessness. A recent Barrow study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that 81 percent of these patients have suffered too many head injuries to count due to domestic violence and only 21 percent had ever been able to seek care for their injuries at the time they occurred.

The Barrow medical team works closely with various homeless shelters in Phoenix to identify victims of domestic violence who may be suffering from a TBI. Once screened positively for a possible brain injury, the patients undergo a full spectrum of medical care at Barrow which includes diagnostic services, physical therapy, neuropsychology, social work, speech therapy, and injury prevention education. The goal is to help these patients return to living a productive and healthy life. The program is funded through a variety of generous grants that have been given to the Barrow Neurological Foundation.