WHAT IS A BRAIN INJURY?

There are two types of brain injuries. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain caused by an external force. Causes include motor vehicle crashes, assaults, falls, and sports and blast injuries. Broken bones will heal with a predictable outcome, but a brain injury isn’t as predictable. Medical tests cannot always detect a brain injury much less predict the path of recovery. Living with this uncertainty and the changes in your life caused by the injury can be very difficult for you and your family

The second type of brain injury is Acquired Brain Injury. It could be caused by a stroke, a severe illness, exposure to toxic substances, a tumor, or any situation where the brain does not get enough oxygen. Both types of brain injuries produce the same symptoms.

The consequences of traumatic or acquired brain injuries are similar. Physical, psychological, behavioral, emotional and cognitive changes can be temporary or last a lifetime. You may experience issues with balance, hearing, sight; difficulty with short and long term memory; challenges with organizing and completing tasks; or experience sudden mood swings.

 

The good news is that you can get better after a brain injury, although you may never be completely the same. You will need help and support to adapt. Your family and friends will need support too. There are many programs and agencies to help you. They are listed in the Resource section of this website and you can contact us for advice on which services best suit your needs.

If you think a family member, friend or you have experienced a brain injury, [ click here ] for a quick and easy screening tool that can help you identify signs that MAY indicate a brain injury. This is a screening tool only and will not provide a medical diagnosis. If the screening tool indicates that you have signs and symptoms of a brain injury we encourage you to contact a medical professional for a medical diagnosis. For USA Military Veteran screening [ click here ].