Traumatic Brain Injury: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Information regarding Traumatic brain injury (TBI) also known as intracranial injury which occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain.
At a Glance
- 1 - Falls lead to nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations in the United States.
- 2 - TBIs may be missed in older adults because their symptoms can look like dementia.
- 3 - Firearm-related suicide is the most common cause of TBI-related deaths in the United States.
- 4 - Keeping balance depends on three systems: the inner ear, the eyes, and sensors in the joints and muscles.
Topic Definition
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury (TBI), or intracranial injury, is an injury to the brain caused by an external force. TBI can be classified based on severity (ranging from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI/concussion) to severe traumatic brain injury), mechanism (closed or penetrating head injury), or other features such as occurring in a specific location or over a general area). Head injury is a broader category that may involve damage to other structures such as the scalp and skull. TBI can result in physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, and outcomes can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. TBI is a major public health concern, contributing to more than 69,000 deaths in the United States in 2021. It is a leading cause of death and disability for children and young adults in industrialized countries. People who experience TBI are more likely to develop severe, long-term cognitive and behavioral deficits.
Overview
Traumatic Brain Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and the Path to Recovery
A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as an intracranial injury, is an injury that affects how the brain works. It can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a penetrating injury such as a gunshot. There are three main types: mild TBI or concussion, moderate TBI, and severe TBI. Head injury is a broader term, because it can also involve damage to the scalp and skull.
Brain damage can happen at the moment of injury and in the minutes, hours, and days that follow. This secondary injury, which includes changes in blood flow to the brain, swelling, and raised pressure inside the skull, can add greatly to the harm caused by the initial injury, which is why fast medical care matters.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is a major cause of death and disability in the United States:
- There were over 69,000 TBI-related deaths in 2021, about 190 every day.
- Falls lead to nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations.
- Firearm-related suicide is the most common cause of TBI-related deaths.
- Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized for and die from a TBI than any other age group.
Common Causes of TBI
People most commonly get TBIs from a fall, a firearm-related injury, a motor vehicle crash, or an assault [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025]. Other causes include sports and recreational injuries, workplace accidents, and blasts in military combat. The most common causes differ by age: falls are especially common in young children and older adults, while motor vehicle crashes, assaults, and sports injuries are more common in teens and young adults. Males have more TBIs than females.
Diagram of the human brain showing the four lobes - frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe - of the cerebral cortex. The cerebrum or cortex is the largest part of the human brain, associated with the higher brain function such as thought and action.
Road Traffic Crashes
Motor vehicle crashes are a common cause of severe head injury and often cause other injuries at the same time. If a person is trapped and medical care is delayed, breathing problems and blood loss can reduce the oxygen supply to the brain and make the brain injury worse. Motorcyclists and bicyclists are more likely to have severe head injuries than people in cars, and wearing a helmet greatly lowers the risk.
Alcohol and Head Injury
Alcohol plays a part in many TBIs from falls, assaults, and crashes. It also makes a head injury harder to assess, because it is difficult to judge a drunk person's level of consciousness, and vomiting can lead to choking.
Sports Injuries
Sports and recreational injuries are a common cause of concussion in children and teens. Contact sports such as football, hockey, rugby, and soccer carry a risk of head impacts, and horse riding, cycling, skiing, and climbing can lead to serious head injuries. Anyone with a possible concussion should stop playing and not return until a health care provider says it is safe.
Older Adults
TBIs may be missed or misdiagnosed in older adults, because their symptoms can look like other conditions that are common in later life, such as dementia. Older adults who have fallen or been in a car crash should be checked for signs of TBI, especially if they take blood thinners, which can raise the risk of bleeding in the brain [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].
Military Service
Blasts and gunshots are leading causes of TBI in military personnel, and service members and veterans are among the groups more likely to be affected by TBI.
Symptoms of TBI
Symptoms of a TBI may not appear until days or weeks after the injury. A concussion is the mildest type and can cause headache or neck pain, nausea, ringing in the ears, dizziness, tiredness, and trouble thinking or remembering. People with a moderate or severe TBI may have those symptoms plus danger signs that need emergency care:
- A headache that gets worse or does not go away
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Slurred speech
- Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
- Convulsions or seizures
- One pupil larger than the other
- Being unable to wake up
Recovery and Long-Term Effects
Depending on how severe it is, a TBI can cause health problems that last a few days or the rest of a person's life. Most people with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks or months, while a moderate or severe TBI can have long-term or lifelong effects on thinking, movement, senses, emotions, and behavior. A TBI during childhood can affect brain development. Rehabilitation may include physical, occupational, speech, and cognitive therapy, and some people need help with daily living for years.
Balance Problems After TBI
Balance problems are common after a TBI and can affect a person's ability to walk, work, and live independently. Compared with other causes of balance dysfunctions or balance disorders, such as strokes or seizures, the effects of brain injury on balance have been studied less, although this is changing. Balance problems can occur even when standard neurological tests find no concerns. Common symptoms include:
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or unsteady, or having a spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Blurred vision
- An unsteady walk or a feeling of falling
Keeping balance depends on three systems working together: the vestibular system (the balance organs of the inner ear), the visual system (the eyes), and the somatosensory system (sensors in the joints and muscles). The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) checks each of these systems. The severity of a TBI is measured with tools such as the Glasgow Coma Scale, the length of unconsciousness, and the length of post-traumatic amnesia, and people with more severe TBI tend to have greater balance problems. Research has found that the degree of sitting balance impairment when a person starts rehabilitation can help predict how independently they will be able to live at discharge.
After a mild TBI, measurable balance problems usually last from a few days to about 10 days, but subtle problems, such as relying too much on vision to stay balanced, can last for months or years. Treatment may include balance retraining exercises, general exercise, and medicines for symptoms such as dizziness. Recovery takes time and varies from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a concussion and a traumatic brain injury?
A concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury, so all concussions are TBIs, but the term TBI also covers moderate and severe injuries that can cause lasting damage.
How is a traumatic brain injury diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually combines a neurological exam, cognitive testing, and imaging such as CT or MRI scans, along with tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale to gauge severity.
Can you fully recover from a traumatic brain injury?
Outcomes range widely, and while many people with mild TBI recover fully, moderate and severe injuries can lead to long-term or permanent physical, cognitive, and emotional changes.
What is second impact syndrome?
Second impact syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition that can occur when a person sustains a second head injury before fully recovering from the first, sometimes causing rapid, severe brain swelling.
How long should someone rest after a concussion?
Rest needs vary by individual, but a short period of physical and mental rest followed by a gradual, supervised return to activity is commonly recommended, guided by a medical professional.
Can a traumatic brain injury cause personality or mood changes?
Yes, TBI can affect areas of the brain involved in emotion and behavior, leading to changes such as irritability, depression, anxiety, or difficulty controlling impulses.
Are children more vulnerable to lasting effects from a TBI?
Because children's brains are still developing, a TBI can affect learning, behavior, and development over time, so ongoing monitoring and support are especially important for young patients.
What is post-concussion syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome is when symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, and irritability last for weeks or months after a concussion. Gradual return to activity and treatment for specific symptoms usually help.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Facts about TBI.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: