Traumatic Brain Injury
The common general term for brain injuries that impair thinking as a result of physical trauma severe enough to cause loss of consciousness or damage to the brain structure. Each year, about two million Americans sustain a brain injury—about one every 15 seconds. More than a million of these are sustained by children, 30,000 of whom will have permanent disabilities.
Boys are twice as likely to be injured as girls, especially between the ages of 14 and 24, followed by infants, and then the elderly. Children are more likely to incur traumatic bran injury during the spring and summer. Traffic accidents account for almost half of the injuries; about 34 percent occur at home and the rest in recreation areas.
Traumatic brain injury includes both open and closed head injury, both of which can cause severe learning problems. In an open head injury, the force of impact can cause scalp injuries and skull fractures, together with blood clots and bruising. This type of injury usually affects one place in the brain, producing specific problems.
A closed head injury can cause more widespread damage as the force of impact causes the brain to smash against the opposite side of the skull, tearing nerve fibers and blood vessels. This type of injury may affect the brain stem, causing physical, intellectual, emotional, and social problems. The entire personality of the person may be forever changed.
In young children, abuse is the primary cause of this type of injury; 64 percent of babies under age one who are physically abused have brain injuries, usually caused by shaking. In children under age five, half are related to falls. Cars and biking accidents and suicide attempts are the primary causes of traumatic brain injury in school-age children and adolescents.
Some children may experience coma after a brain injury; the degree of the coma severity is measured by the Glasgow Coma Score, which assigns a number to the degree to which patients can open their eyes, move, or speak. X rays and brain scans may help if a skull fracture is suspected.
Symptoms
The signs following a traumatic brain injury may be elusive, but it is important to understand that head injuries tend to get worse over time. Obvious warning signs include:
• lethargy
• confusion
• irritability
• severe headaches
• changes in speech, vision, or movement
• bleeding
• vomiting
• seizure
• coma
More subtle signs of head injury may also appear, over time, and may include:
• long- and short-term memory problems
• slowed thinking
• distorted perception
• concentration problems
• attention deficits
• communication problems (oral or written)
• poor planning and sequencing
• poor judgment
• changes in mood or personality
Sometimes, certain behavior may appear long after the traumatic brain injury occurs. These behaviors may include overeating or drinking, excessive talking, restlessness, disorientation, or seizure disorders.
Treatment
Rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible after the accident, focusing on the problem areas. Treatment may include physical or occupational therapy, or speech and language therapy.
Prevention
Traumatic brain injury can be prevented by taking appropriate safety precautions, such as insisting that children wear helmets when biking, riding a scooter, or skating, sledding, and skiing. Children should wear seat belts and ride in the back of the car.
Boys are twice as likely to be injured as girls, especially between the ages of 14 and 24, followed by infants, and then the elderly. Children are more likely to incur traumatic bran injury during the spring and summer. Traffic accidents account for almost half of the injuries; about 34 percent occur at home and the rest in recreation areas.
Traumatic brain injury includes both open and closed head injury, both of which can cause severe learning problems. In an open head injury, the force of impact can cause scalp injuries and skull fractures, together with blood clots and bruising. This type of injury usually affects one place in the brain, producing specific problems.
A closed head injury can cause more widespread damage as the force of impact causes the brain to smash against the opposite side of the skull, tearing nerve fibers and blood vessels. This type of injury may affect the brain stem, causing physical, intellectual, emotional, and social problems. The entire personality of the person may be forever changed.
In young children, abuse is the primary cause of this type of injury; 64 percent of babies under age one who are physically abused have brain injuries, usually caused by shaking. In children under age five, half are related to falls. Cars and biking accidents and suicide attempts are the primary causes of traumatic brain injury in school-age children and adolescents.
Some children may experience coma after a brain injury; the degree of the coma severity is measured by the Glasgow Coma Score, which assigns a number to the degree to which patients can open their eyes, move, or speak. X rays and brain scans may help if a skull fracture is suspected.
Symptoms
The signs following a traumatic brain injury may be elusive, but it is important to understand that head injuries tend to get worse over time. Obvious warning signs include:
• lethargy
• confusion
• irritability
• severe headaches
• changes in speech, vision, or movement
• bleeding
• vomiting
• seizure
• coma
More subtle signs of head injury may also appear, over time, and may include:
• long- and short-term memory problems
• slowed thinking
• distorted perception
• concentration problems
• attention deficits
• communication problems (oral or written)
• poor planning and sequencing
• poor judgment
• changes in mood or personality
Sometimes, certain behavior may appear long after the traumatic brain injury occurs. These behaviors may include overeating or drinking, excessive talking, restlessness, disorientation, or seizure disorders.
Treatment
Rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible after the accident, focusing on the problem areas. Treatment may include physical or occupational therapy, or speech and language therapy.
Prevention
Traumatic brain injury can be prevented by taking appropriate safety precautions, such as insisting that children wear helmets when biking, riding a scooter, or skating, sledding, and skiing. Children should wear seat belts and ride in the back of the car.
