What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury, generally referred to as TBI, is a complex injury whose effect on the sufferers and their family can be distressing. What is more devastating is that one moment the sufferer is normal and the very next moment life changes for the worse. The consequences of TBI on job, social and community interaction of the effected person can be devastation. According to the estimates of CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), about 1.5 million people in the United States of America suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year. What is more concerning is that approximately 50000 people die from Traumatic brain injury each year in the US alone.

The effects of Traumatic brain injury are devastating. People with severe injuries can be left in unresponsive state for along time.

Difference between brain injury and other injuries is that the former does not heal like other injuries. Since brain injury is very complex, it results in a situation where initially the sufferers are not in the know that they have brain injuries. Earlier the death rate from traumatic brain injuries was very high.

A brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. People with Traumatic brain injury may experience symptoms that include headache, mood swings, frustration, or trouble with thinking. Severe brain injury is characterized by loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes.

A severely affected person may experience repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or headache that gets worse over the time.

How is TBI diagnosed?

Diagnosis and prognosis of a TBI patient can be done in a test lab. Imaging tests including computed tomography (CT) scan are helpful in the Diagnosis of severe Traumatic brain injury.

Is there any treatment for TBI?

Until now, there is no known cure for traumatic brain injury. Consequently, prevention seems to be the best approach. What is of utmost importance in the treatment of Traumatic brain injury is the timely intervention. A symptomatic patient should receive medical attention at the earliest. The earlier the treatment of aphasia begins, the better the chance of its success.

Each TBI person’s difficulties are different. Since not much done to reverse the initial damage to brain, the doctors, medical health experts should try to stabilize the affected person and focus on preventing further injury. They should ensure that oxygen is supplied properly to the brain and the rest of the body. They should focus on controlling the blood pressure.

Most treatment plans for people with Traumatic brain injury include individually tailored treatment programs in the realms of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and psychology/psychiatry. Long-term rehabilitation is sine qua non for many individuals with severe Traumatic brain injury.

New York is home to one of the best traumatic brain injury rehabilitation centers in the US. These centers provide the survivors of traumatic brain injuries the highest quality treatment for brain damage.

The article above is part of our website blog and does not represent opinion or advice of Marissa A Barrera and other staff members.