A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). Symptoms may appear right away or may not be present for days or weeks after the injury.
TBI is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially among children and young adults. The leading causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes, falls, and violence. Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.
Facts about traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Males are about 1.5 times more likely than females to sustain a TBI. The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are ages 0-4 and 15-19. The youngest children and oldest adults sustain injuries due to falls more often than young-to-middle-age adults, who are more often injured in motor vehicle crashes.
TBI can result in short- or long-term problems with independent function. TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior and/or sensation. TBI can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.
Treatment and resources for TBI
The most frequent long-term needs for those who have sustained a TBI are:
- Improving memory and problem solving
- Managing stress and emotional upsets
- Controlling one’s temper
- Improving one’s job skills
- Managing the activities of daily living
At Nature’s Edge, we find that treatment strategies using a concrete and outlined plan, short and concise directions, patience and a sense of humor are especially effective for patients with brain injury.
Further reading on traumatic brain injury
For more information, we recommend the following resources:
- Brain Injury Association of America www.biausa.org
- Traumatic Brain Injury.com www.TraumaticBrainInjury.com
- National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury http://www.tbinrc.com/
- Concussions, TBI and Other Head Injuries http://www.medicalbillingandcodingonline.org/resources/concussions-tbi-and-other-head-injuries/
As always, we invite you to contact Nature’s Edge Therapy Center for personalized information and resources for traumatic brain injury.