| A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden | | | | state, or "locked-in" syndrome. Severe brain injuries |
| trauma causes damage to the brain. A TBI can occur | | | | cause loss of consciousness for days, weeks, or |
| when the head suddenly and violently hits an object | | | | months. Impairment may be permanent. |
| or when an object pierces the skull. TBI's can be mild | | | | Anyone showing signs of TBI should seek medical |
| or severe, and the symptoms of TBI vary depending | | | | attention immediately. Because little can be done to |
| on the severity of the injury. Some TBI symptoms | | | | reverse the initial brain damage caused by head |
| include, but are not limited to, headache, | | | | trauma, medical professionals will try to stabilize an |
| lightheadedness, confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, | | | | individual with TBI and focus on preventing further |
| ringing in the ears, nausea, lethargy, disturbed sleep | | | | injury. Primary concerns typically involve insuring |
| patterns, and trouble with memory, concentration, | | | | proper oxygen supply to the brain, maintaining blood |
| and cognitive functioning. | | | | flow and controlling blood pressure. |
| Severity of TBI's | | | | Common Causes of TBI |
| If you have suffered a brain injury, it is important to | | | | Most TBI's are caused by motor vehicle crashes, |
| understand that the rating of the severity of your | | | | crashes involving off-road vehicles, such as ATV's, |
| injury refers only to the initial, not the long-term, | | | | falls and jumps, and being struck by another person |
| damage. Even a "mild" brain injury can have serious | | | | or an object. Explosive blast injuries sustained in |
| long-term consequences. | | | | combat are an emerging cause of traumatic brain |
| • Mild brain injury - A mild brain injury causes | | | | injury, and TBI has been named the "signature |
| a brief loss of consciousness, lasting no more than a | | | | wound" of the war in Iraq. It has been estimated |
| few minutes, or no loss of consciousness at all. | | | | that 20% of infantry troops and 10% of all American |
| Immediately afterwards, the victim is dazed and/or | | | | troops have suffered a traumatic brain injury |
| confused. | | | | Approximately one-half of all TBI patients will need |
| • Moderate brain injury - Loss of | | | | surgery to repair ruptured blood vessels or bruised |
| consciousness lasts several minutes to several hours. | | | | brain tissue. Some common disabilities suffered after |
| Confusion can last for weeks or months. Impairment | | | | a TBI are problems with cognition, sensory |
| may last for several months or can be permanent. | | | | processing, communication, and mental health |
| • Severe brain injury - Loss of | | | | behavior. More serious head injuries may result in an |
| consciousness lasts for days, weeks, or months. | | | | unresponsive state; a coma; a vegetative state; or a |
| Severe brain injury can result in a coma, vegetative | | | | persistent vegetative state. |