Joseph Pigott (59) from Limerick felt humiliated when he was accused of speaking aggressively to a member of staff in a mobile phone shop.
The retired care provider acquired a head injury two years ago when he was hit by a car while on holiday in Lanzarote, and one consequence was the onset of tinnitus.
“I went into a phone shop last year to try to sort out something about my mobile. As a result of the brain injury I have tinnitus and sometimes I’m inclined to raise my voice, so that I can hear,” he said.
“The person behind the counter accused me of being abusive to him. I’m not an abusive person: it’s just that the tinnitus was bad on the day. Sometimes even my wife has to tell me to tone it down.”
Despite Pigott’s attempts to explain, he was told staff at the shop would not deal with him. The situation was resolved at a subsequent visit, but the initial encounter was a bruising one for Pigott.
“I went out with my tail between my legs because it’s very embarrassing for somebody to accuse you of being aggressive, especially when there are other people listening. I’m very placid most times. It knocked my confidence completely.”
Pigott believes that if he could have produced an ID card explaining that he had an acquired brain injury then the fraught situation could have been resolved at an early stage. “I’m very pro the ID cards. They are very important. It’s important as well that people become more aware of acquired brain injury because people don’t understand how it can affect you.
“That’s the thing about brain injury: you look perfect. You’d swear there’s nothing wrong with us. For people with a broken leg, for example, it’s obvious.”
Headway Ireland is an organisation that helps people with brain injuries to rebuild their skills and achieve the best possible quality of life, as well as providing support for their families.
Headway is in the process of providing service users with ID cards which feature a photograph, name and phone number, along with an explanatory message.
“I may have problems with my memory, speech, behaviour and balance. Your help and patience would be appreciated,” the card states.
Headway’s colleague organisation, Brí, which provides support and advocacy, already supplies such a card to members. The Brí card states: “I am a survivor of a brain injury, I have problems which are not apparent. Your help and patience would be appreciated”.
Brí has found the card has been useful for members, especially those who have difficulties making themselves understood because their speech has been affected.
Pigott says visiting Headway’s centre in Limerick makes a big difference to his life, “and also gives my wife Celine a bit of a break from me as well!” He also praises the work of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABII).
His brain injury manifests itself in a number of ways. His balance and mobility has been affected. “When I got knocked down I didn’t break a bone in my body. I use two sticks to walk. If I didn’t you’d think I was permanently drunk, the way that I’d be walking.”
His memory is affected and finding the correct word can sometimes prove difficult. “I know what I want to say but actually getting the exact word I want, that’s part of the problem as well.”
Pigott’s concentration is also not what it was to the extent that even watching a two-hour film now requires a break.
He says brain injuries can be acquired in many ways. He knows people who have fallen off bicycles, people who were assaulted and those who have suffered strokes. Some have been accused of being drunk in public as onlookers misinterpret their behaviour.
In his own case, Pigott was just two-days into a pre-Christmas break in Lanzarote when he left the apartment he was sharing with his wife “to get something for the tea” and was struck by a car. He spent 10 days in a coma and remained abroad for two months, although he has no memory of his time in hospital.
A lifetime’s ambition was apparently achieved, but he cannot recollect that either.
“The one thing I always wanted to do in my life was travel by helicopter. They had to bring me to a different island, but I don’t remember that. I have to take their word for it!”
On his return to Ireland he found it difficult to accept there was anything wrong with him, primarily because he had no memory of the incident.
He had previously worked providing care to older people and those with disabilities within their own home so “was used to giving rather than receiving care”.
He credits a nueropsychologist with helping him come to terms with the brain injury and he made “great progress” with the Limerick community rehabilitation team at St Camillus’ Hospital.
There have been setbacks along the way, however. A brush with pneumonia and septicaemia “almost killed me off again”, and he was referred to Headway.
“I became very self-conscious. I was embarrassed because of my speech, my memory loss and even my mobility. I kind of kept myself to myself. I didn’t go out with my wife or my friends.
“I’m starting from scratch now trying to improve myself again but second time around the progress is slow.”
He says many people are worse off than he is, however. “Only for the organisations like Headway and ABII, there’s nothing really there to help us.”
Spreading the word about the implications of brain injury is vital, he says. “People don’t realise how many people have brain injury. It’s very important that the message is got out there.”
