Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is irreparable brain injury caused by sudden damage. A TBI can be either an open or closed head injury. Open head injuries are characterized as an injury with penetration to the brain as a result of an object such as a bullet. The resulting symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain injured. A closed head Injury is one where a blow causes damage to the head and brain without penetration. An example would be when the head hits a windshield or dashboard during an auto accident.

The type of damage caused by these injuries falls into two categories; 1. Primary brain damage, where the damage occurs at the time of impact, such as a skull fracture, bleeding or blood clots and 2. Secondary brain damage, which is damage that evolves over time as a result of the trauma, such as increased blood pressure within the skull, seizures, and brain swelling.

Common Causes of TBI – Topping the list of leading causes of TBI, per The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are motor vehicle and pedestrian-related accidents, collisions and violent assaults. Participatory activities such as contact sports and military combat service are additional leading causes. Once an individual has experienced a brain injury, he or she maybe predisposed to additional brain damage, although the symptoms from an earlier event may not be evident or resolved.

It is important to note, The CDC and Prevention reports: “Every year at least 1.7 million TBIs occur in the United States (across all age groups) and TBIs are a contributing factor in about a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths.” TBIs are most prevalent among males across all age groups.

Who specializes in recognizing TBIs? – Though the medical diagnosis of a TBI is made by a physician, the specific deficits or symptoms of a TBI are diagnosed and managed by an interdisciplinary team. Depending on the needs of the individual, a team of specialists may include audiologists, physicians, nurses, neurologists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, employers, and teachers. Diagnoses are made with the use of a combination of patient monitoring reports, clinical presentations, and brain imaging review and analysis (such as CT scans and MRIs). A form of TBI called mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is typically diagnosed only on the basis of the individual’s (or caregiver’s) report and clinical signs and symptoms. Brain imaging findings are typically normal in mTBI. As you can imagine, proper diagnosis and treatment are essential in determining how well the individual recovers.

Symptoms caused by a TBI – The results of a TBI may include physical, sensory, cognitive-communication, and behavioral issues. These problems significantly impair a person’s ability to live independently. The problems vary depending on the location of the injury and how widespread the damage is.

Examples of common physical problems include the loss of consciousness, development of seizures, frequent headaches, episodes of dizziness and nausea/vomiting, reduced muscle strength (paresis/paralysis) and limited movement, balance, and/or coordination, and difficulty swallowing. This includes dyspraxia/apraxia, which is a speech disorder characterized by a person’s inability to say what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. It is not a weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles (the muscles of the face, tongue, and lips).

Sensory deficits refer to all sensory modalities. A person may become unable to synthesize sensations that normally help to identify his or her own location in a space.

Common behavioral changes include changes in experiencing or expressing emotions, agitation and/or combativeness, anxiety or stress disorder, and depression. An individual with a TBI can experience mood swings, impulsive control issues, irritability, and reduced frustration tolerance.

Cognitive impairments describe problems with thinking skills. This might involve changes in awareness of one’s surroundings, attention to tasks, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making functioning. Memory deficits for events and things that occurred before the injury may make it impossible for a person to perform tasks they had in the past.

Treatment of a TBI – While best practices and clearly defined approaches to treating specific conditions have evolved, the care plan for an individual with a traumatic brain injury will be specific to his/her needs. A team of specialists led by a Physician or Neurologist will include those focused on the entire functionality of the body and brain from Audiologists, Psychologists or Psychiatrists to Physical Therapists and Speech Pathologists. Our personal injury law firm has handled many cases of those involved in an auto accident who suffered some form of Traumatic Brain Injury.