About Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. Essentially, this type of brain injury is one that has occurred after birth. The injury results in a change to the brain's neuronal activity, which affects the physical integrity, metabolic activity, or functional ability of nerve cells in the brain.
There are two types of acquired brain injury:
Traumatic and Non-traumatic.
- A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. Traumatic impact injuries can be defined as closed (or non-penetrating) or open (penetrating).
- A non-traumatic brain injury is an alteration in brain function or pathology caused by an internal force.
Individuals with brain injury may experience
Cognitive challenges:
- Memory loss
- Concentration
- Attention Problems
- Slowed learning
- Difficulty with planning,
reasoning and judgment
Emotional & behavioral:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Impulsivity
- Aggression
- Thoughts of suicide
- Irritability
Physical challenges:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Difficulty with balance or
motor skills
- Sensory loss
- Seizures
- Sleep issues
- Visual deficits
It is important for you to find physicians, therapists and treatment providers who have experience with Brain Injury or who will refer you to someone who does. No matter the severity level, from concussion to a catastrophic injury, rehabilitation care is necessary to address medical, cognitive, behavioral and vocational issues, as is starting a record of what is happening. Treatments and medications vary significantly. It is not uncommon that different methods will be trialed before finding the right combination.
STATISTICS
~ More than 3.5 million people sustain an acquired brain injury in the US each year;
~ 2.5 million of these are traumatic brain injuries.
~ 280,000 are hospitalized; 50,000 die.
~ 400,000 children and youth are treated in Emergency Rooms with these injuries.
~ The CDC estimates as many as 3.8 million concussions related to
sports and recreation occur each year.
~ 529,200 Pennsylvanians are living with Acquired Brain Injury.