 What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Traumatic
brain injury (TBI) is also known as a head injury. It is an injury
to the brain most often caused by external force the the skull.
What makes a brain injury "traumatic?"
Usually,
a 'traumatic' brain injury is caused by external force to the
skull. Other causes of brain injuries (aneurysms, brain tumors, etc.)
are not classified as 'traumatic.'
What causes a TBI?
The
most common causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes and falls, but they can
be anything that causes the head to abruptly strike a solid object and the
brain to hit the interior wall of the skull. Other causes are:
physical assaults (such as gunshot wounds and child abuse) and
sports/recreational injuries.
What are the consequences of TBI?
TBI
varies in severity from mild to severe. People who experience a mild
injury very often appear fine yet can have some lingering effects that impact
their ability to resume their normal responsibilities at home, work, or
school. They may exhibit difficulties with: concentration,
organization, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, memory, relationships
with family, business associates, friends, and/or personality changes.
People
whose injuries are considered to be moderate or severe, exhibit varying degrees
of difficulty in cognition (thinking), emotional, behavioral, physical and
social areas. They may suffer permanent disabilities, which affect
their returning to a pre-injury lifestyle.
Why is TBI called "The Silent Epidemic?"
TBI
has been referred to as "The Silent Epidemic" because of the staggering number
of people who are injured each year and the lack of public awareness about
its consequences. Please see our Statistics Page
for more information regarding this area.
Who is the Brain Injury Association of Arkansas?
To
find out about us, please read our Mission
Statement.
Need more information?
Contact us or visit our
Articles page.
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