ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a conceptualization of how cultural issues impact the recovery of head injured Hispanic patients. This discussion, like many others in this book, is limited by factors that preclude absolute generalizations. Of note, the following observations are clinical in nature and relate to a mostly rural, low socioeconomic status, SES, low acculturation, immigrant Hispanic population. As such, these impressions may or may not be valid in approaching the well-educated, upper SES Hispanic immigrant from major urban centers in Latin America who resides in New York, for instance. Nor may it be appropriate for the second or third generation Hispanic who is monolingual English speaking and totally integrated into the U.S. culture. However, the issues presented provide a framework for understanding the areas of clinical interaction that typically evolve into sources of conflict within rehabilitative settings.
