Understanding brain injury
Brain injury, also called acquired brain injury, is any damage to the brain affecting a person physically, emotionally, or behaviorally.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, an estimated 2.8 million people sustain new brain injuries annually in the U.S., where more than 5 million people live with the lingering effects of brain injury.
Causes
Brain injuries can happen at any time during a person’s life from an illness or a trauma. Causes of brain injury can be apparent or unseen.
- Causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can include motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence or gunshot wounds, and military attacks or bomb blasts. These injuries do not always include an open head wound, skull fracture, or a loss of consciousness.
- Causes of non-traumatic brain injuries (NTBI) can include stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), a lack of oxygen (hypoxia/anoxia), tumors, a brain infection or inflammation, and other illnesses such as cancer. These injuries do not involve an external force or action.
Both types are categorized as mild, moderate or severe, with the level of severity based primarily by the length of loss of consciousness, as well as the length of post-traumatic amnesia or state of confusion. The level does not describe the expected outcomes in the patient’s life.
Effects
The effects of brain injury can be varied.
- Physical: Headache, balance problems, vision problems, seizures, changes in sensory perception, trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, changes in sleep, lack of bladder and/or bowel control, changes in sexual function, and trouble moving the body
- Cognitive: Difficulty forming sentences or choosing words, confusion, trouble communicating needs, difficulty with reasoning and logic, memory impairment, poor concentration, limited attention span, difficulty with perceptual skills, and lack of orientation to person, place, time, or situation
- Emotional: Personality changes, depression, difficulty with mood, and acting inappropriately
To adapt to these changes, it will help you and your loved one if you understand what to expect, find ways to work through challenges, and use supportive resources included on this website.