| A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a | | | | coma, vegetative state, or "locked-in" |
| sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. A | | | | syndrome. Severe brain injuries cause loss of |
| TBI can occur when the head suddenly and | | | | consciousness for days, weeks, or months. |
| violently hits an object or when an object | | | | Impairment may be permanent. |
| pierces the skull. TBI's can be mild or | | | | |
| severe, and the symptoms of TBI vary | | | | Anyone showing signs of TBI should seek |
| depending on the severity of the injury. Some | | | | medical attention immediately. Because little |
| TBI symptoms include, but are not limited to, | | | | can be done to reverse the initial brain |
| headache, lightheadedness, confusion, blurred | | | | damage caused by head trauma, medical |
| vision, dizziness, ringing in the ears, | | | | professionals will try to stabilize an |
| nausea, lethargy, disturbed sleep patterns, | | | | individual with TBI and focus on preventing |
| and trouble with memory, concentration, and | | | | further injury. Primary concerns typically |
| cognitive functioning. | | | | involve insuring proper oxygen supply to the |
| | | | brain, maintaining blood flow and controlling |
| Severity of TBI's | | | | blood pressure. |
| | | | |
| If you have suffered a brain injury, it is | | | | Common Causes of TBI |
| important to understand that the rating of | | | | |
| the severity of your injury refers only to | | | | Most TBI's are caused by motor vehicle |
| the initial, not the long-term, damage. Even | | | | crashes, crashes involving off-road vehicles, |
| a "mild" brain injury can have serious | | | | such as ATV's, falls and jumps, and being |
| long-term consequences. | | | | struck by another person or an object. |
| | | | Explosive blast injuries sustained in combat |
| • Mild brain injury - A mild brain | | | | are an emerging cause of traumatic brain |
| injury causes a brief loss of consciousness, | | | | injury, and TBI has been named the "signature |
| lasting no more than a few minutes, or no | | | | wound" of the war in Iraq. It has been |
| loss of consciousness at all. Immediately | | | | estimated that 20% of infantry troops and 10% |
| afterwards, the victim is dazed and/or | | | | of all American troops have suffered a |
| confused. | | | | traumatic brain injury |
| | | | |
| • Moderate brain injury - Loss of | | | | Approximately one-half of all TBI patients |
| consciousness lasts several minutes to | | | | will need surgery to repair ruptured blood |
| several hours. Confusion can last for weeks | | | | vessels or bruised brain tissue. Some common |
| or months. Impairment may last for several | | | | disabilities suffered after a TBI are |
| months or can be permanent. | | | | problems with cognition, sensory processing, |
| | | | communication, and mental health/behavior. |
| • Severe brain injury - Loss of | | | | More serious head injuries may result in an |
| consciousness lasts for days, weeks, or | | | | unresponsive state; a coma; a vegetative |
| months. Severe brain injury can result in a | | | | state; or a persistent vegetative state. |