| Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been deemed the | | | | * Individuals suffering from lifelong TBI will find that |
| "signature injury" of the Iraqi war. Millions of men and | | | | no treatments have yet been discovered to deal |
| women who have been serving time in the U.S. | | | | with this. |
| military are returning home with conditions that their | | | | Flawed Brain Injury Technology |
| friends and families have no way of dealing with. | | | | Unfortunately, as budgets are cut, the quality of care |
| With an average of 1.4 million Americans undergoing | | | | and technology also decreases. Most recently the |
| some form of TBI, the number of scientists and | | | | Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed |
| researchers striving to cure these individuals should | | | | nine Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and found |
| be ever increasing, however, dwindling budgets | | | | that the TBI-screening test's validity and reliability |
| continue to compress and squeeze war-related brain | | | | may be flawed. |
| injury funding. In 2006, the U.S. House and Senate | | | | Additionally, the report found that soldiers with TBI |
| slashed the allocated funding for the Defense and | | | | may be receiving inadequate or unnecessary care for |
| Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) in half from | | | | their brain injuries, according to an Associated Press |
| the previous year. | | | | article from January 2008. The report found that: |
| Traumatic brain injury has been deemed the | | | | * Although the VA has implemented TBI screening |
| "signature" injury of the Iraq war, according to | | | | tools, the validity and reliability of the tool has not |
| military doctors and experts. It is imperative for | | | | yet been established. |
| struggling soldiers to find assistance with their | | | | * Soldiers who have been found to have TBI are |
| TBI-related disability. | | | | under a VA-implemented protocol to ensure |
| What is TBI? | | | | treatment; however, many of the VA's medical |
| Traumatic brain injury is defined as an injury that | | | | facilities either did not follow the protocol or had |
| occurs after an abrupt trauma causes damage to the | | | | difficulty doing so. |
| brain, according to the National Institute of | | | | * Culturally, the VA has found that Iraq veterans feel |
| Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). | | | | the VA and its facilities cater to elderly veterans and |
| War-related TBI can occur in many ways and | | | | do not want to treat young veterans. |
| individuals suffering from this and related side effects | | | | * The VA is struggling with poor rural access to |
| will find symptoms vary on a case-by-case diagnosis. | | | | medical centers as well as poor turnout rates for |
| Researchers and scientists are, however, finding | | | | injured vets who in some cases must drive 100 miles |
| several repetitive conditions and symptoms among | | | | plus to reach a nearby VA hospital. |
| TBI victims. According to two renowned medical | | | | Living With TBI |
| journals, Neuropsychology and Brain Injury, there are | | | | Veterans who are currently living with TBI will find |
| several signs and symptoms to watch for among | | | | that not only does TBI affect them, but the ripple |
| veterans with war-induced injuries: | | | | effect among an injured veteran's family and friends |
| * cognitive issues | | | | is quite extensive. There are an array of clinical trials |
| * decreased attention span, including focused, | | | | that a TBI victim can become involved in to improve |
| selective and sustained attention problems | | | | the living conditions as well as to treat the symptoms |
| * language difficulties | | | | of TBI. Some of these clinical trials can be found |
| * lack of motivation | | | | through the following organizations Web sites: |
| * inability to efficiently process information | | | | * National Institute of Neurological Disorders and |
| * irritability | | | | Stroke - Brain Resources and Information Network |
| * depression and anxiety | | | | (BRAIN) |
| * increased fatigue | | | | * Acoustic Neuroma Association Brain Trauma |
| * headaches | | | | Foundation |
| * memory loss or disturbance | | | | * Brain Injury Association of America Family |
| * behavioral issues | | | | Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving |
| * disrupted sleep | | | | National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) |
| * post traumatic stress disorder | | | | * National Stroke Association |
| In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBIC testified | | | | * National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation |
| to a Senate subcommittee that while "body armor | | | | Research (NIDRR) |
| may save troops caught in blasts it leaves many with | | | | Finding Brain Injury Assistance |
| brain damage," according to a USA Today news | | | | There are several organizations available to offer |
| report. Additionally, the article cited several disturbing | | | | assistance specifically to those with war-related |
| statistics on the state of TBI and war veterans. | | | | ailments. The following are several of the leading |
| * Nearly 10 percent of soldiers serving in Iraq have | | | | organizations/hospitals: |
| suffered from a concussion during some part of their | | | | * Walter Reed Army Medical Center Defense and |
| service. | | | | Veterans Brain Injury Center |
| * 20 percent of all frontline infantry troops suffer | | | | * Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological |
| from concussions during combat. | | | | Health and Traumatic Brain Injury |
| *Scientists believe the Pentagon must screen all | | | | * National Intrepid Center of Excellence Deployment |
| troops returning from Iraq. | | | | Health Clinical Center |
| *The Pentagon has declined screenings for all | | | | *Center for Study of Traumatic Stress Center for |
| returning troops and only screen a small population of | | | | Deployment Psychology |
| soldiers. | | | | * The Department of Defense (DoD) also offers a |
| *If left untreated or untested, multiple head injuries | | | | search component through their Web site to assist |
| and concussions can cause permanent brain injury. | | | | veterans in finding a veteran hospital in their |
| Also, several equally disturbing statistics have been | | | | geographic area. |
| reported from several specialized journals including | | | | Additionally, individuals enduring the pain of a |
| Brain Injury, Internal Medicine, Soldiers Magazine, | | | | war-related brain injury are encouraged to locate an |
| MIT's Technology Review and Perspectives in | | | | experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer who can |
| Psychiatric Care. These statistics area as follow: | | | | provide assistance with developing a brain injury |
| * Nearly 25 percent of all military veterans of the | | | | lawsuit. Monetary compensation is likely an option for |
| Iraq war are diagnosed with a mental illness. | | | | individuals who have suffered from these severe |
| * War-related TBI patients often manifest distinct | | | | injuries, which can be life altering. |
| personality changes. | | | | TBI medical bills can be extremely expensive, and this |
| * Of the 35,000 soldiers screened for TBI, | | | | potential for awarded compensation can provide relief |
| approximately 11 percent have had symptoms of mild | | | | from the stress associated with medical expenses. |
| TBI. | | | | |