What is traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury is any physical injury to the brain caused by an external force. This force may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness. Trauma or forces exerted on the brain cause damage which often are at the microscopic level, resulting in a negative impact on speech, cognition, behavior, personality, emotions, and perceptions. Other times, the person may sustain no loss of consciousness or coma or only a fleeting alteration in consciousness. Nonetheless, there may be injury to the brain, which can cause deficits in a person’s functioning.
Traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) is damage to the brain that results when the head is hit, strikes a stationary object, or is violently shaken. Common causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes, acts of violence, falls and sports activities. A TBI can occur without any outward physical evidence of trauma. Damage to the brain may occur immediately or it may develop as a result of swelling or bleeding following injury. Common consequences of TBI can involve sensory, cognitive, behavioral and/or emotional impairments. Brain injuries are classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on the type of injury or pressure and changes in the brain. Mild (75 percent of all injuries) – Results in concussion; brief or no loss of consciousness; dazed, vacant stare right after injury; delayed response to questions or commands; disorientation and foggy memory; headaches; dizziness or nausea; slurred speech; and (usually) no complications. Moderate – Results in loss of consciousness from a few minutes to
