Brain Injury
Did You Know?
- Countless individuals experience brain injuries and never receive medical care.
- 1.4 million brain injuries occur in the United States each year.
- Symptoms of a brain injury may not appear until days or weeks following an injury.
- Some brain injuries go unrecognized because people look fine even though they act or feel differently.
Center for BrainHealth Programs
Center for BrainHealth is currently working on a variety of notable studies of adult and childhood traumatic brain injury. These projects examine genetic factors and recovery, assessment and virtual reality intervention for social cognition problems, cognitive and psychological outcomes compared with structural changes in the brain, memory deficits detected in functional brain imaging, and growth hormone abnormalities following injury. More information about brain injury is available in the Research and Clinical/Treatment sections.
About Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an individual sustains an injury to the head and internal brain damage results. The damage may be restricted to a small specific area of the brain or may be more serious and involve more comprehensive harm. Depending on the size and location of the injury, cognitive deficits and behavioral issues often emerge. TBI is a common consequence from accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions, and is the most common cause of death in children in the United States.
Brain injuries are classified in terms of mild, moderate, and severe based on the extent of damage. Symptoms vary by type of injury and by individual, but many common symptoms occur. Some examples of immediate symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Coma
- Seizures
More long-term effects can emerge. Examples of these symptoms include:
- Memory problems
- Lack of inhibition
- Intense anger and/or aggression
- Personality changes
- Inattention and lack of concentration
- Problems organizing, planning, and problem-solving
- Language impairment
Treatment
Periodic evaluation of physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and language skills is important following a TBI to determine what problems a patient is experiencing. Though progress is often expected in these areas during recovery, focusing on specific areas of concern can speed recovery and aid the patient in compensating for deficits.
Immediate treatment involves care to life-threatening injuries. Often surgery is necessary to remove blood clots in the brain, drain excess fluid in the brain, or to remove a portion of the skull to allow for brain swelling. Once a patient is stabilized, care is individualized to the patient’s needs. Rehabilitation of physical, cognitive, and speech problems often is necessary.
Other Resources
For more information on traumatic brain injury, the following websites may be helpful.
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