Brain Injury Facts
I wish someone had given me this advise when I had my TBI...
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury
What is TBI?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may happen from a blow or jolt to the head or an object penetrating the brain. When the brain is injured, the person can experience a change in consciousness that can range from becoming disoriented and confused to slipping into a coma. The person might also have a loss of memory for the time immediately before or after the event that caused the injury. Not all injuries to the head result in a TBI.
How Does TBI Happen?
Who suffers a TBI?
Males outnumber females by at least 2:1 in frequency of TBIs. Individuals between the ages of 0 to 4 and those 15 to 24 are at high risk for TBI, as are the elderly. Individuals who abuse substances are also at increased risk for TBI.
Those older folks who get drunk and fall are at extreme risk of TBI.
TBI resulting from blast injury occurs rather frequently in the military engaged in active combat in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
How severe is a TBI?
Severity of the TBI is determined at the time of the injury and is based on:
The severity of the injury ranges from mild (a brief disorientation or loss of consciousness) to severe (an extended loss of consciousness or a penetrating brain injury, like a gunshot wound to the head). Mild TBI is also known as concussion.
Severity of TBI is a continuum and the particular classification used to designate a person as having mild, moderate or severe injury can be somewhat arbitrary. Persons with more severe TBI tend to have more difficulty making complete recovery. However, it does not necessarily define the person's likelihood of recovery.
What are the consequences of TBI?
TBI can cause a number of difficulties for the person who is injured. This can include physical changes, changes in the person’s behavior, or problems with their thinking skills. After an injury, a number of symptoms might be noted including headaches, dizziness/problems walking, fatigue, irritability, memory problems and problems paying attention. These changes are often related to how severe the brain injury was at the time of injury.
Where can I get care for TBI?
You should go to a hospital if you believe you suffered a brain injury. If you go to your private physician, they will send you for tests such an MRI or CT, or depending on the severity of your injury, yuo may be sent to the hospital. You may need medical care to treat and care for your TBI alone or in combination with other injuries and health conditions.
Treatments for TBI focus on the symptoms that cause most problems in everyday life. These can include:
About the Brain
Though it weighs barely three pounds, the brain has an enormous job.
What is TBI?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may happen from a blow or jolt to the head or an object penetrating the brain. When the brain is injured, the person can experience a change in consciousness that can range from becoming disoriented and confused to slipping into a coma. The person might also have a loss of memory for the time immediately before or after the event that caused the injury. Not all injuries to the head result in a TBI.
How Does TBI Happen?
- TBI can come from:
- Head injury from a motorcycle accident
- Head injury while playing sports
- The head being struck by an object, such as a bat or a fist during a fight
- The head striking an object, such as the dashboard in a car accident or the ground in a fall
- Head injury from someone slamming your head to the ground or into a wall or,
- The head being affected by a nearby blast or explosion.
Who suffers a TBI?
Males outnumber females by at least 2:1 in frequency of TBIs. Individuals between the ages of 0 to 4 and those 15 to 24 are at high risk for TBI, as are the elderly. Individuals who abuse substances are also at increased risk for TBI.
Those older folks who get drunk and fall are at extreme risk of TBI.
TBI resulting from blast injury occurs rather frequently in the military engaged in active combat in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
How severe is a TBI?
Severity of the TBI is determined at the time of the injury and is based on:
- Length of the loss of consciousness
- Length of memory loss or disorientation
- How responsive the individual was after the injury, for example, whether they were able to follow commands
The severity of the injury ranges from mild (a brief disorientation or loss of consciousness) to severe (an extended loss of consciousness or a penetrating brain injury, like a gunshot wound to the head). Mild TBI is also known as concussion.
Severity of TBI is a continuum and the particular classification used to designate a person as having mild, moderate or severe injury can be somewhat arbitrary. Persons with more severe TBI tend to have more difficulty making complete recovery. However, it does not necessarily define the person's likelihood of recovery.
What are the consequences of TBI?
TBI can cause a number of difficulties for the person who is injured. This can include physical changes, changes in the person’s behavior, or problems with their thinking skills. After an injury, a number of symptoms might be noted including headaches, dizziness/problems walking, fatigue, irritability, memory problems and problems paying attention. These changes are often related to how severe the brain injury was at the time of injury.
Where can I get care for TBI?
You should go to a hospital if you believe you suffered a brain injury. If you go to your private physician, they will send you for tests such an MRI or CT, or depending on the severity of your injury, yuo may be sent to the hospital. You may need medical care to treat and care for your TBI alone or in combination with other injuries and health conditions.
Treatments for TBI focus on the symptoms that cause most problems in everyday life. These can include:
- Medications;
- Learning strategies to deal with health, cognitive, and behavioral problems;
- Rehabilitation therapies (such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy);
- Assistive devices and technologies.
About the Brain
Though it weighs barely three pounds, the brain has an enormous job.