Traumatic Brain Injury: Some Basic Info

Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness month? In recognition of this, I'd like to share some info about traumatic brain injuries, or TBI. Let's start with the definition. A TBI:

• is caused by an external physical force or by an internal occurrence
• occurs with or without loss of consciousness
• may occur in a single event or across a series of events
• results in total or partial functional disability and/or psychosocial impairment
• adversely affects a child's educational performance

​Causes of TBI include but are not limited to open or closed head injuries, cerebrovascular accidents (e.g., stroke, aneurysm), infection, kidney or heart failure, electric shock, anoxia, tumors, metabolic disorders, toxic substances, and medical or surgical treatments. TBI does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, but it can include injuries induced by birth trauma. 

Something you may not have realized is just how far-reaching the impact of a TBI can be. A traumatic brain injury can result in impairment in one or more areas, including cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem-solving, psychosocial behavior, physical functions, information processing, speech, and/or sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities. 

For more information about the signs and symptoms of a TBI, check out this helpful site.