What is a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to any trauma to the head caused by an external object contacting or penetrating the skull.

TBI is a difficult condition to manage and its consequences can have significant impacts on your daily life. So, what exactly is a traumatic brain injury?

TBIs can be caused by an array of different possibilities such as:

• Contact with objects after a fall
• Involved in vehicular accidents
• Clashes in full-contact sports

Once an incident takes place, someone may display symptoms like loss of consciousness, lack of motor control or slurred speech.

If these symptoms occur, the victim should be taken to the hospital to be seen by emergency doctors. During the examination, the doctor will grade the injury from mild to severe.

Some patients with a mild TBI might not even know it happened. This was emphasised by Auckland University of Technology Professor of Neurology & Epidemiology, Prof. Valery L. Feigin, who stated that “some people may not realise they suffered a TBI.”

For patients with a severe TBI, surgery management might be needed and the consequences of the injury can be serious with impairments such as:

• Memory Loss
• Paralysis
• Speech impediments
• Loss of muscle controls

Afterwards, treating physicians will define a plan to help the patient recover from their injuries. This plan is adapted to each patient’s needs and usually comprises of recovery therapies and rehabilitation programs. These programs encourage neuroplasticity within the brain to re-learn how to use different parts of the body but also regain cognitive functions.