A brain injury has far-reaching effects. Changes
in behavioral patterns can occur, and it is
not uncommon for people with brain injuries
to have to relearn a wide variety of skills
and to maintain this effort day after day,
year after year. The good news is that function
often slowly returns, at least to some degree.
With appropriate rehabilitation, people with
these injuries can improve their functioning
and recreate, if not resume, their lives.
What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
What are the conditions of TBI?
What are the common causes of TBI?
How can I prevent TBI?
What are the symptoms of brain injury?
For additional information on brain injury,
visit
While
You Are Waiting,
a web site that provides information to those
whose lives have been changed by brain injury.
What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
"Traumatic" in this case does not
refer to emotions, but to the mechanical cause
of
the injury. A traumatic injury to the brain
is always caused by an external force: a blow
to the head, a penetration of the skull, or
even a whiplash can cause a traumatic brain
injury.
What are the conditions of TBI?
Depending on the nature of the injury, there
could be changes in physical, mental, or behavioral
functioning. Physical impairments can include
paralysis (partial or complete), seizures,
or loss of sensory abilities (taste, touch,
smell, vision, hearing). Mental effects might
include impairments to memory, concentration,
judgment, decision-making and language. Brain
injury can also lead to depression, impulsiveness,
emotional volatility, or a marked change in
personality.
What are the common causes of TBI?
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the most common recent causes of TBI-related deaths in Arizona were firearms, falls, and motor vehicle traffic crashes. Leading causes of non-fatal TBIs treated in Arizona hospitals were falls and motor vehicle crashes. Finally, the major causes of non-fatal TBIs treated in Arizona emergency departments were falls, struck by/against injuries, and motor vehicle crashes. The ADHS statistics do not include information on TBIs that were treated in doctors’ offices, other outpatient facilities, at home, or not treated at all. See the
Publications section of this website for the latest Arizona data reports.
Click here to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for more TBI information.
How can I prevent TBI?
Some accidents are unavoidable. However, there
are some things you can do to reduce your risk.
Driving safely and wearing your seat belt,
exercising caution in all recreational activities,
and wearing the proper footwear and headgear
can go a long way toward preventing injury.
Wearing a helmet, for instance, when riding
a bicycle or motorcycle can change the course
of your life.
What are the symptoms of brain injury?
Although the impact of a severe brain injury
is obvious, the lingering effects of a milder
brain injury can sometimes be subtle and may
not be recognized immediately. Recurring headaches,
dizziness or trouble with balance, blurred
vision, sleep disturbances, paranoia, eating
disorders, loss of memory and loss of writing
and reading abilities may be signs of possible
brain injury, and there are many others. You
should consult your doctor if you notice any
unusual changes in behavior after an injury. For more information on TBI symptoms in adults,
click here. For further information on TBI symptoms in children,
click here.
