What Is Traumatic Brain Injury And How Is It Treat

Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injury

Head injury is the most common term describing any trauma to the head. Head injury is a general term that can relate to not only brain injury, but to the scalp or skull damage as well. Causes are varied, such as falls, acts of violence or vehicle accidents. Diving accidents are also causes, usually associated with alcohol, with male under the age of 25  have also been a cause of head injuries and spinal cord injuries.  Injuries resulting in death have decreased with the implementation of seat belt and helmet laws; other laws have been implemented in an attempt to the reduce the number of fall injuries to protect infants and  children, regulating such potential products such as cribs, car seats and playgrounds.

The term describing the physical trauma to the brain is referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI). The brain can be injured in a centralized location or a widespread area, and is due to bleeding and/or pressure from swelling leading to cell death. The impact of the cell death can result in a variety physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral effects, depending on the the location of the injury in the brain, and the size of the damaged area. The physical effects of traumatic brain injury can range fromphysical limitations such as weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, speech disorders such as word finding difficulties, inability to speak or understand, verbal preseveration which is a persistent repetition of a phrase or certain words, sensori-motor disturbances or post-traumatic epilepsy

Cognitive effects of traumatic brain injury can include retrograde memory loss, which is the lack of rememberance of occurnces just prior to the injury to years prior to injury, disorientation, or perseveration of thoughts or ideas, such as continually asking for chocolate cookies or demanding to go home. Abnormal posturing of limbs in unconscious or comatose patients can be indicative of a poor prognosis, as a result of damage to the brain stem.

Emotional symptoms can exhibit themselves as depression, lack of anger management or control, anxiety, depression and irritability,and denial.  There may also  be impairment to the ability to function in relationships, self-awareness, self-regulation, ability to express thoughts and feelings, and excitation and inhibition.  Classic Traumatic Brain Injury of the frontal lobe showed memory impairment with emotional disturbances such asapathy, lack of motivation and c indifference to the surrounding environment.  Emotional difficulties must be considered in the treatment and rehabilitation process in order to help improve social adjustment and quality of life aspects.

Behavioral outcome can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death and can impact intepersonal relationships, school or work.  Severity is measured by Glascow Coma Scale and loss of consciousness at time of injury

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury And How Is It Treated? Privacy Policy