When can I get back to driving?

This is a question I commonly hear after someone or their loved one has had a stroke. There are typically several steps you’ll need to go through to see if you’re ready to get back on the road.

Assessments for Driving Readiness: Before driving after a stroke, you’ll need to go through several assessments to evaluate your driving readiness. These assessments may include:

  • Medical assessment: Your healthcare team will assess your overall health and any limitations affecting your ability to drive safely.
  • Cognitive assessment: A cognitive assessment may be required to evaluate your attention, reaction time, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
  • Visual assessment: A comprehensive visual evaluation will determine your visual acuity, visual field, depth perception, and other visual functions necessary for safe driving.
  • Physical assessment: Your physical capabilities will be assessed to determine whether you will need adaptive driving equipment.
  • Driving simulator assessment: Some rehabilitation centres offer driving simulator assessments, allowing you to practice driving in a controlled environment and assess your driving performance without the risks associated with on-road driving.

Rehabilitation for Safe Driving: If the assessments indicate areas that need improvement, an occupational therapist trained to provide driving rehab services, can guide you through a tailored program to enhance your driving skills.

Local rehabilitation hospitals in mid-size or large cities often have driving rehab programs. You can call around to rehab hospitals near you to see where the closest one is.

Here are some strategies that may be included in your rehabilitation plan:

  • Physical exercises: Engage in targeted exercises to improve strength, coordination, and range of motion for safe driving. These exercises may focus on upper body strength, fine motor skills, and leg strength and flexibility.
  • Cognitive training: Cognitive exercises to enhance attention, memory, decision-making, and multitasking skills. These exercises improve your ability to process information quickly and make appropriate judgments while driving.
  • Visual rehabilitation: Visual exercises to improve visual acuity, visual field, depth perception, and scanning skills in preparation for the multitude of visual actions we use during driving.
  • On-road assessment and training: Once you have made progress in your off-road rehabilitation, an on-road assessment may be conducted to evaluate your driving skills in real-world situations. This will be done gradually, perhaps starting in a parking lot similar to when you first started learning. This assessment allows your therapist to provide targeted feedback and additional training to address specific areas of improvement.
  • Gradual exposure and practice: As you gain confidence and demonstrate safe driving skills, the therapist will gradually expose you to different driving conditions and practice driving in various settings. This helps you build experience and adapt to the demands of different road environments.
  • Assistive devices and modifications: In some cases, assistive devices or vehicle modifications may be recommended for any ongoing physical issues to ensure safe driving. These modifications include hand controls, pedal extenders, steering wheel modifications, and more.

Getting back to driving after a stroke often requires careful consideration, assessment, and rehabilitation. While you may be itching to get back behind the wheel (and understandably so!), your safety and the safety of others on the road should always be the top priority ❤️

Take care,

Elyse

P.S. Neuroplasticity (our brain’s ability to adapt and change) is the best tool we currently have to create progress and maximize stroke recovery. In the same way that you wouldn’t use a toothbrush to brush your hair, understanding how to effectively use this tool makes all the difference.

#elysenewland