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February
7, 2000, “Traumatic brain injury
strikes every 15 seconds” According to the Brain
Injury Association, someone in the United States
sustains a traumatic brain injury every 15 seconds.
Vehicle crashes, falls and sports injuries are the
three leading causes. These injuries can leave victims
with temporary or permanent cognitive and emotional
problems, including memory loss, speech impairments,
fatigue and impulsive behavior. Read
More…
Get the full story here
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April
14, 1999, “CDC report shows prevalence of brain
injury” An estimated 5.3 million Americans,
a little more than 2 percent of the U.S. population,
currently live with disabilities from traumatic
brain injuries, according to a new report by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each
year, approximately 80,000 Americans experience
the onset of disabilities resulting from brain
injuries, the report says. The data released in
the CDC study is considered the most complete
picture of the impact of traumatic brain injuries
(TBIs) in the United States. Read
More…
Get the full story here
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The top
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September
7, 1999, “Brain injuries common in amateur athletes”
"Traumatic brain injury is a public-health
epidemic," said Kelly, who pointed out that
about 300,000 people who participate in amateur
sports, including high-school and college athletes,
will suffer from traumatic brain injuries this
year. The exact number among young athletes is
unknown. Overall, 1 million people will suffer
traumatic brain injuries this year, leading to
more than 50,000 deaths and 70,000 to 90,000 cases
of long-term disability, according to the editorial.
The number exceeds the newly diagnosed cases of
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's
disease combined.
Read More…
Get the full story here
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The top
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October
28, 1998, “Study: Specialized
rehab can retrain injured brains” Up to 2
million Americans suffer brain trauma each year,
mostly from car crashes, falls, violence, and
sports accidents. About 90,000 of them have severe
brain damage that causes long-term debilitation.
Many more are unaware they've been injured, and
experience more subtle symptoms like disorientation,
headaches, memory loss, and personality changes.
Read More...
Get the full story here
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The top
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1998, “The Injured Brain” Traumatic brain
injury occurs when the compression, twisting and
distortion of the brain inside the skull associated
with impact causes localized as well as widespread
damage throughout the brain. The lobes most likely
to be bruised in a traumatic brain injury are the
frontal and temporal lobes. This is because of the
bony ridges on the inside of the skull near the
lobes. Traumatic brain injury occurs most often
as a result of vehicle accidents, falls, blows,
and gunshot wounds. In fact, according to the Dana
Alliance for Brain Initiatives, among Americans
of ages 15 to 25, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is
the leading cause of death and neurological disorders.
Read
More...
Get the full story here
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What
is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Traumatic
brain injury is sudden physical damage to the brain.
The head forcefully hitting an object, called a closed
head injury, may cause the damage or by something passing
through the skull and piercing the brain, like a gunshot
wound, penetrating head injury. The major cause of traumatic
brain injury is from motor vehicle accidents. Other
causes include falls, sports injuries, violent crimes,
and child abuse.
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TBI
FACT ::::::::::
According
to the Brain Injury Association, someone in the United
States sustains a traumatic brain injury every 15
seconds.
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Traumatic
Brain Injury Damages
Physical, behavioral, or mental changes are dependent upon
which areas of the brain are injured. Most often focal
brain damage is done, which is damage confined to just a
small area of the brain. This point is usually where the
head has hit an object. Closed head injuries often times
causes scattered brain injuries or damage to other areas
of the brain. Diffuse damage is the result of an impact
causing the brain to move back and forth against the skull.
Frontal and temporal lobes, responsible for speech and language,
are often the most affected because they sit in the areas
of the skull that allows more room for the brain to shift
and sustain injury. Speech and language is therefore affected,
as well as voice, swallowing, walking, balancing, and coordination
difficulties and changes in the ability to smell and in
memory and cognitive skills.
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Incidence
of Traumatic
Brain Injury Using national data for 1995-1996,
the CDC estimates that TBIs have this impact in the
United States each year:
•
1
million people are treated and released from hospital
emergency department
• 230,000
people are hospitalized and survive
•
50,000 people die
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Treatment
for Traumatic Brain Injury
It
is best to begin treatment early when cognitive and communication
problems arise from a TBI. If a hospital visit resulted from
the injury treatment usually begins there. A therapist will
work with the individual to help them focus on improving their
orientation to the surrounding situation and to stimulate
speech and understanding. Oral motor exercises are used when
there is speech and swallowing problems. Long-term rehab can
be assessed by the individual’s injuries and needs. There
is rehab specific to people with traumatic brain injury, including
speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational
therapists, and neuropsychologists.
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The top
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Quick
Facts on Traumatic
Brain Injury
Incidence
of Traumatic Brain Injury Using national data for 1995-1996,
the CDC estimates that TBIs have this impact in the
United States each year:
- 1
million people are treated and released from hospital
emergency departments
- 230,000
people are hospitalized and survive
- 50,000
people die
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To
The top
Traumatic
Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Rehab will help a TBI sufferer reach the highest level of
independent functioning that they can, depending on the seriousness
of the accident. Therapy works on restoring lost skills. Some
people lose abilities after a traumatic brain injury and will
have to learn to compensate for them. The most difficult part
of traumatic brain injury is receiving the proper treatment.
If a head injury does not result in a hospitalization and
the injury is a closed head injury, failure to diagnose a
problem during an office visit may result.
To
The top
| What
Are My Legal
Rights Concerning a TBI Accident? |
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Traumatic
brain injury sufferers often face an array of medical,
legal and financial issues. Some TBI sufferers may
appear unharmed, especially with a closed head injury,
but may need physical, cognitive, and emotional treatment.
If you have questions regarding a traumatic brain
injury that you, or a family member, have suffered
from, please
contact us.
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How
Is TBI Detected?
The
assessment of cognitive and communication problems is a
continual, ongoing process that involves a number of professionals.
Immediately following the injury, a neurologist or another
physician may conduct an informal, bedside evaluation of
attention, memory, and the ability to understand and speak.
Once the person's physical condition has stabilized, a speech-language
pathologist may evaluate cognitive and communication skills,
and a neuropsychologist may evaluate other cognitive and
behavioral abilities. Occupational therapists also assess
cognitive skills related to the individual's ability to
perform "activities of daily living" (ADL) such
as dressing or preparing meals. An audiologist should assess
hearing. All assessments continue at frequent intervals
during the rehabilitative process so that progress can be
documented and treatment plans updated. The rehabilitative
process may last for several months to a year.
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The top
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TBI
Attorney
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| For
more information regarding traumatic brain injury and
your LEGAL RIGHTS click
here! |
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| The
major cause of traumatic brain injury is from
motor vehicle accidents. |
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| Recent TBI
News |
AUGUST 2004
Traumatic Brain Injuries Increase in Massachusetts
Figures released on August 24, 2004 indicate the number of traumatic brain injuries suffered in Massachusetts has greatly increased over the past ten years. The increase has been especially present among the elderly. From 1995 to 2002, the number of traumatic brain injury deaths due to falls increased 77 percent, with the traumatic brain injury deaths due to motor vehicles increasing 47 percent, according to data presented to the state Public Health Council. Read Full Article...
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Click here for more
Traumatic Brain Injury News.....
Effects
of Traumatic Brain Injury
The
effects of the brain damage are generally greatest immediately
following the injury. However, long-term problems are difficult
to assess because some damage may be caused by contusion,
bruising of the brain that is usually temporary. Focal
damage may result in long-term and permanent difficulties.
Other areas of the brain can learn to take over the functions
of the damaged areas over time and can improve the condition. When a traumatic brain injury occurs in a child they may
progress better than an adult because their brain has a greater
capability to be flexible.
The
brain stem regulates basic arousal and regulatory functions,
as well as being involved in attention and short-term memory.
When a traumatic brain injury occurs and affects this area
disorientation, frustration and anger can result. In moderate
to severe injuries swelling can cause pressure on the brainstem.
Consciousness or wakefulness can be affected so a person
may fall into a coma.
Higher
up in the brain, than the brain stem, is the limbic system,
which helps regulate emotions. The temporal lobes are connected
to the limbic system and are involved in many different cognitive
skills, including memory and language. Behavioral disorders
have resulted from damage to the temporal lobes, or seizures
in this area. Almost always, the frontal lobe is injured in
traumatic brain injuries because it is so large in size and
is located near the front of the cranium. The frontal lobe
is considered the emotional and personality control center,
as well as many cognitive functions. Damage to the frontal
lobe can lead to decreased judgment and increased impulsivity.
Traumatic
brain injury can cause cognitive impairments, like trouble
concentrating, trouble organizing thoughts, and becoming easily
confused or forgetful, may occur in conscious people. Learning
new information may be difficult and interpreting actions
of others will lead to social problems, like making inappropriate
statements. Problem solving, decision-making, and planning
could be difficult as well as judgment.
Language
issues like articulating words and forming sentences may become
difficult after TBI. Frustration and anger can be directed
at the other person because of the difficulties a person with
TBI can experience when trying to carry on a conversation
or others may not even be aware of their errors. Reading
and writing becomes a problem also. Mathematical abilities,
simple or complex, are also often affected.
A
traumatic brain injury can cause conditions, such as dysarthia,
which starts to slow, slur, and make speech difficult to understand
if the speech mechanism muscles become damaged. Swallowing
can become problematic brought on by dysphagia, and a condition
called apraxia can make repeating words in a consistent manner
difficult.
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The top
Is
TBI Always Properly Diagnosed?
Some
TBI cases are difficult to detect because even a CT scan can
show proper brain functioning when there is in fact brain
damage. Brain damage is not just a result of unconsciousness,
and headaches and mood swings are both symptoms that can come
from a closed head injury. Some symptoms may not appear until
much after the injury. Often times neurologist reserve their
time for only serious head injuries and a regular physician
may not catch a problem in a routine office visit.
To
The top
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Glasgow
Coma Scale
A common method used to measure the severity of a traumatic
brain injury is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score.
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Glasgow
Coma Scale - score on admission
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GCS Range 3-8
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GCS Range 9-12
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GCS Range 13-15
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Severe
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Moderate
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Mild
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58.8%
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20%
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21.2%
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%
of TBI Injuries per Age Group
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15-25 yrs
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26-35 yrs
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36-45 yrs
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46-55 yrs
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56-65 yrs
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66-75 yrs
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76-85 yrs
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31.7%
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22.5%
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19.5%
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10.0%
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7.5%
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6.3%
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2.5%
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The
data on age comes from the ICRC study of 240 cases. No children
were used. |
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Video
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CLICK
HERE to watch videos on:
Aneurysm
Axonal Shearing
Coup-Contracoup Mechanism
Diffuse Brain Injury
Gunshot Brain Injury
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For
more information regarding traumatic brain injury and
your LEGAL RIGHTS
click
here |
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TBI
Occurences
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Traumatic
Brain Injury Occurs When
- the
head is struck with force
- the
head strikes an object
- the
brain undergoes movement within the skull without
visual trauma to the exterior of the head
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