Traumatic Brain Injury Key Facts

TBI Definition

Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is a complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. TBI occurs when a sudden trauma damages the brain. TBI can also be called a brain injury, an acquired head injury, or simply a concussion.

Traumatic Brain Injury is caused when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, when the head is powerfully jolted or shaken, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue.

Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

MRI and CAT scans can pinpoint damage, but diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury usually relies on observation and the presence of symptoms. Symptoms can easily be overlooked, especially if there is other trauma to the body, and the diagnosis of TBI can be missed. Cognitive skills testing can help detect TBI and is usually administered several days after the trauma.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury can be mild, moderate, or severe, and are not always immediate. They include:

Headache
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Confusion
Poor memory or memory loss
Poor concentration and lack of focus
Inability to perform sequential tasks
Difficulty organizing thoughts and activities
Poor problem-solving, decision-making and planning skills
Poor reading comprehension
Taking a long time to complete tasks
Blurred vision or tired eyes
Ringing in the ears
Bad taste in the mouth
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions or seizures
Numbness or poor coordination in limbs
Fatigue or lethargy
Agitation or restlessness
Change in sleep patterns
Mood swings and behavior changes

Traumatic Brain Injury - Prognosis and Treatment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States each year approximately:

1.5 million people suffer from TBI
50,000 people die from TBI
85,000 people suffer long-term disabilities

Disabilities depend on the location and severity of the injury, and the age and health of the individual. For people who recover, common long-term disabilities include: problems with cognition (memory, attention, reasoning), sensory processing (sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing), communication (expressing and understanding) and behavior or mental health (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, social inappropriateness).

Initial treatment focuses on stabilizing the patient to prevent further injury, along with testing, observation and mental and physical rest. Long-term rehabilitation can include:

Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech or language therapy
Social therapy
Vision therapy
Psychiatric or psychological counseling
Cognitive skills training

Gemm Learning programs focus on cognitive skills training, or “brain training” using Fast ForWord and BrainWare Safari. This software actually changes the brain by creating new neural pathways (connections between brain cells).
Traumatic brain injury treatment