A traumatic brain injury, or TBI is a type of injury where there is damage to the brain as a result of a bump, blow, jolt to the head, or a penetrating injury such as a gunshot wound to the head. TBI’s vary in severity and can affect various parts of the brain which may lead to numerous cognitive, physical, behavioral, and emotional changes. TBI’s can range from a mild TBI or concussion to severe forms which can cause permanent brain injury or even result in death.
TBI’s affect the lives of people of all ages, and sustaining a TBI can happen to anyone. Nearly 80% of them happen to males, and are also more common among people that are older than 65. It is important to note that both children and even infants can experience a TBI. Data also suggests that some groups are at greater risk of dying from a TBI or experiencing long-term health problems after the injury. For example: racial and ethnic minorities, people who experience homelessness, service members and veterans, etc. There are numerous potential causes of a TBI with both falls and car accidents being two of the most common. Other causes may include sports related injuries, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, shaken baby syndrome, military combat, and gunshot wounds including attempted suicides.
TBI’s are a major public health concern in they contribute to a considerable amount of deaths and cases of pertinent disability yearly. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 2.8 million people sustain a TBI annually, of them 50,000 die, 282,000 are hospitalized, and nearly 90 % are treated and released from an emergency department. These statistics really shed light on the seriousness of this injury so if you or a loved one suffers an injury to the head it is of utmost importance to seek immediate medical assistance. Early intervention could save a life and potentially prevent some of the long-term effects that can result from experiencing a brain injury.
Signs and Symptoms
TBI’s signs and symptoms vary depending upon who severe the injury is and the area of the brain that is affected. Some common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, mood changes, difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions, feeling of depression or anxiety, and sensitivity to lights and sounds. In more severe cases individuals may experience convulsions or seizures, nausea and vomiting, double vision, loss of or change in consciousness, or significant physical impairments.
There are two main categories in which doctors tend to group TBI’s in, either closed injuries or open (penetrating) injuries. Within these two groups there are several different types of TBI’s that can occur. Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury and typically result in temporary changes to brain function. Contusions involve bruising on the brain, meaning a mild form of bleeding. Brain hemorrhages which is uncontrollable bleeding on the surface of the brain or within the brain tissue itself. Intracranial hematomas occur when blood accumulates outside of blood vessels. Coup-contrecoup brain injury which occurs when the brain or skull slams into the opposite side of the site of impact due to significant impact to the brain. Diffuse axonal injury are one of the most severe types of TBI’s, it is a tearing of nerve tissue throughout the brain. Penetrating brain injury which occurs when a foreign object penetrates the skull and brain. Second impact syndrome occurs when a second brain injury occurs a short time after the original injury.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a TBI typically involves a thorough and comprehensive evaluation. The Glasgow Coma Scale is a 15-point test doctors can use to initially assess the severity of a brain injury. Certain abilities such as a person’s ability to move their eyes and limbs, to follow directions, etc. can provide valuable information. The higher the points a person scores equates to the higher their level of function is, indicating a less severe injury sustained. Other tests that may be encountered are a neurological evaluation done by a neurologist, imaging tests such as CT scans or MRI, a blood test called the Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator (BTI) which looks for proteins in the blood that point out concussion or mild TBI, and in some instances additional tests may be necessary to rule out other potential causes of symptoms.
Management and treatment of a TBI is based upon both the severity of the injury and the specific symptoms experienced by the individual. Ordinarily mild TBI’s do not require treatment other than rest and over the counter pain medications which can help with headaches. It is important though to monitor a person with a mild TBI at home in case of new or worsening symptoms. Individuals who sustain a more severe TBI may require intense treatment such as immediate emergency care, surgery, medications and rehabilitation.
The outlook for individuals with a TBI is highly individualized and can vary depending upon numerous factors. Those factors can include the severity, cause and type of injury, the individual’s age and overall health status, and the ability as well as the effectiveness of the treatment. Some individuals may fully recover from a TBI and be able to resume all work/recreational activities they participated in pre-injury, while others may encounter long-term cognitive, behavioral, or physical limitations. Obtaining an early diagnosis and receiving the necessary treatment needed are important key factors that can help in improving outcomes for individuals who have sustained a TBI.
One of the following two ways are needed to qualify for disability benefits when an individual has suffered a traumatic brain injury. First, criteria of the neurological listings for TBI (“medically disabled”) must be met, second show that the TBI symptoms sustained keep you from preforming any jobs (“vocationally disabled”).
Resources
Visit your local social security office or their Online Application for Disability Benefits (ssa.gov) to learn more about Disability benefits.
The Brain Injury Association of America | BIA (biausa.org) offers both resources and support for individuals with brain injury and their families. It as well provides information on research and advocacy efforts relative to TBI’s.
