Columbia Business Says It Can Help Those With Concussions

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) -- The new movie "Concussion" is about a Pennsylvania doctor who identified and named the brain trauma happening to NFL players.

Now, as Mike Schuh reports, a Columbia business says they can help many people with concussions.

Will Smith plays the real life Pennsylvania doctor who discovered, then named the damage done to NFL players after repeated hits to their heads.

"Some people have a lot of prolonged difficulties because of concussions and that's where we come in," said Kate Ortman.

Ortman runs Brain Training of Maryland. She uses methods to help overcome brain injuries.

"We're having tremendous success with our clients as long as they're compliant with their training protocols," Ortman said. "It's like a gym. You have to put in the time to get your brain healthier."

River Hill basketball standout Alicia Seelaus played at Yale but her time on the court ended in three serious concussions.

"My last concussion in college my junior year actually ended my basketball career and I actually had to take a leave of absence," she said.

Later on a church mission she suffered a fourth. She underwent brain training and says it has helped.

"Feeling more confident in my short-term memory," she said. "I think all of those have brought my personality back."

Now she's a trainer helping others.

For some, like the players whose cases were depicted in the movie, may have had too much damage---but in Columbia, for others, they can boil down their work into two words.

"There is hope," Ortman said.

Brain Training of Maryland says their beginning programs take four to six weeks.