Realities of Brain Injury (TBI)

Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 2012/10/07 - Updated: 2021/07/15
Topic: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Informative article examines TBI including signs symptoms and importance of seeking medical aid as soon as possible. The forms of disabilities resulting from a TBI depend upon the severity of the injury the person has experienced, the location of their injury, as well as the person's age and general health.

Introduction

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a form of acquired brain injury, one that happens when a sudden trauma causes damage to a person's brain. A TBI can happen when a person's head suddenly and violently hits another object, or when an object pierces a person's skull and enters their brain tissue. The symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe depending upon the extent of the damage to the person's brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism (closed or penetrating head injury), or other features (e.g. occurring in a specific location or over a widespread area). Head injury usually refers to TBI, but is a broader category because it can involve damage to structures other than the brain, such as the scalp and skull.

Main Item

A person who has experienced a mild TBI might remain conscious, or they may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. The person may have a headache, experience some lightheadedness, confusion, dizziness, tired eyes or blurred vision, a bad taste in their mouth, ringing in their ears, some lethargy or fatigue, as well as changes in their mood or behavior, sleep patterns, and difficulties with concentrating, attention, memory, or thinking. A person who has experienced a moderate or severe form of TBI might experience the same symptoms, yet may also experience a headache that worsens or does not go away. They may vomit repeatedly or experience nausea, seizures, dilation of one or both pupils in their eyes, an inability to wake up from sleep, weakness, numbness, slurred speech, and increased confusion, a loss of coordination, agitation, and restlessness.

A person who has signs of a moderate or severe TBI needs to receive medical attention as quickly as possible. There is little that can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by the trauma, although medical professionals will attempt to stabilize the person and concentrate on preventing additional injury. The main concerns include insuring the person receives an appropriate oxygen supply to their brain and body, maintains an adequate flow of blood, and controlled blood pressure.

Imaging tests can help medical professionals to determine a diagnosis and a prognosis for a person who has experienced a traumatic brain injury. People with mild to moderate injuries might receive neck and skull X-rays to check for spinal instability or bone fractures. People who have experienced a moderate or severe TBI may receive a CT scan, as well as rehabilitation. The rehabilitation often involves individually designed types of treatment in areas including physical, speech/language, and occupational therapy, as well as psychiatry, social support, and psychology or psychiatry.

Nearly 50% of people who experience a severe brain injury require surgery to repair or remove ruptured blood vessels also known as, 'hematomas,' or bruised brain tissue referred to as, 'contusions.' The forms of disabilities resulting from a TBI depend upon the severity of the injury the person has experienced, the location of their injury, as well as the person's age and general health. Common forms of disabilities include issues with thinking, memory, reasoning, hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell, understanding, and expression. Others may include issues with behavior or mental health such as anxiety, depression, aggression, personality changes, 'acting out,' or social inappropriateness.

People who have experience a more serious brain injury might experience stupor or an unresponsive state - yet may be aroused briefly through a strong type of stimulus such as sharp pain. A person with a serious brain injury may also experience coma and remain unconscious, unaware, unresponsive and un-arousable, essentially in a vegetative state and unaware of their surroundings, continuing to have a sleeping/waking cycle with periods of alertness, or the person may remain in a persistent vegetative state.

The consequences of a brain injury are unpredictable, affecting who we are and the way we think, feel, and act. A brain injury can change everything about a person in mere seconds. While this may seem overwhelming it is important to remember:

Every year approximately 1.7 million people experience a form of traumatic brain injury. The leading causes of TBI include falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and being struck by something.

The Brain in a Healthy State

To help with understanding what occurs when a person's brain is injured, it is important to understand what a healthy brain is made of and what it does. A person's brain is enclosed inside of their skull, which acts as a protective covering for their brain, which is soft. A person's brain is made of nerve cells or, 'neurons,' which form tracts that route throughout the person's brain. The nerve tracts carry messages to different parts of a person's brain, which uses the messages to perform various functions.

The functions of a person's brain include coordinating their body's systems, to include their heart rate, breathing, metabolism, body temperature, body movements, thought processing, behavior, and personality. The brain's functions also include ones such as hearing, vision, smell, taste, and touch. Every part of a person's brain performs a specific function and links with other parts of their brain to form more complex functions. Every part of a person's brain needs to be working well for their brain to work well as a whole. Even minor or mild forms of brain injuries may significantly disrupt a person's brain's ability to function well and as it should.

The Brain in an Injured State

When a person experiences a brain injury the functions of their neurons, nerve tracts, or sections of their brain may be affected. If the neurons and nerve tracts are injured, the person may be unable to, or experience difficulties with, carrying the messages that tell their brain what to do. A brain injury can change the way a person acts, thinks, moves their body, or feels.

A brain injury may also change the complex internal functioning of a person's body, to include functions such as blood pressure, body temperature regulation, and bladder or bowel control. The changes might be temporary or permanent, depending upon the injury. The changes a person experiences due to a brain injury might cause impairment, or a complete inability to perform a particular function.

A person's brain is divided into main functional sections or, 'lobes.' The brain lobes are referred to as the, 'Frontal Lobe,' 'Temporal Lobe,' 'Parietal Lobe,' 'Occipital Lobe,' the, 'Cerebellum,' and the, 'Brain Stem.' Each lobe of a person's brain has a specific function. What follows are basic descriptions of the functions of each lobe of a person's brain.

Frontal Lobe Functions:

Temporal Lobe Functions:

Parietal Lobe Functions:

Occipital Lobe Functions:

Cerebellum Lobe Functions:

Brain Stem Functions:

The Right and Left Sides of the Brain

The functional sections, or lobes, of a person's brain are also divided into right and left sides. The right side and left side of a person's brain are responsible for different functions. General patterns of dysfunction may happen if the injury a person has experienced is located on the right or left side of their brain. What follows are descriptions of potential functional impairments based upon injuries to a particular side of a person's brain.

Injuries to the Right Side of a Person's Brain May Cause:

Injuries to the Left Side of a Person's Brain May Cause:

'Diffuse,' or Injuries to Both Sides of a Person's Brain May Cause:

Every year an estimated 1.7 million children and adults in America experience a form of traumatic brain injury. Another 795,000 people experience a form of acquired brain injury due to non-traumatic causes every year. There are currently more than 3.1 million children and adults in America living with a lifelong form of disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury and an estimated 1.1 million people have a disability as a result of a stroke.

Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a CNA Thomas has providing care for people with all forms of disabilities. Explore for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

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Citing and References

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Cite This Page: Thomas C. Weiss. (2012, October 7 - Last revised: 2021, July 15). Realities of Brain Injury (TBI). Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 21, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/health/neurology/tbi/realities.php

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