Traumatic Brain Injury

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is a head injury that results in damage to the brain. There are two basic types of head injuries that can lead to damage within the brain – closed head and penetrating head injuries.

Closed Head Injury – Occurs when the head is suddenly stopped while in motion and the brain hits the inside of the skull. This happens, for example, when the head hits the windshield during an auto accident. A closed head injury can also occur without external trauma to the head, such as when the brain moves forward and backward during whiplash. There does not need to be a loss of consciousness to suffer a traumatic brain injury.

Penetrating Head Injury – Occurs when an object penetrates the skull.

Damage can occur in three ways: bruising (bleeding), tearing, and swelling.

Bruising (bleeding) – Blood vessels can tear when the brain is injured. When this occurs, the blood pools within the brain and begins to press on sensitive brain tissue. The brain tissue will die off and critical parts of the brain may stop functioning.

Tearing – Tiny tears can occur when the brain is injured. These tears are microscopic and usually cannot be observed with a CT scan or MRI.

Swelling – Swelling occurs when the body realizes the brain has been injured. Extra help is sent to help it heal, but because there is very little room within the skull, pressure begins to build up and damages parts of the brain. Critical areas within the brain may stop functioning.

Danger Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Adults

Sometimes brain injuries are not obvious. An injury such as a concussion, stroke, or whiplash can cause brain damage without showing evidence of serious trauma. The following is a list of common TBI symptoms that victims of brain injury may manifest:

• Persistent mild headaches
• Poor memory
• Poor concentration
• Poor organizational ability
• Poor decision making
• Slow speech
• Slow reading
• Confusion
• Neck pain
• Lack of energy
• Change in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or oversleeping
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Loss of senses
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of sex drive
• Mood changes

Children

Noticing signs of brain injury in children may be more difficult because they have less developed communication skills. The child may feel some symptoms but cannot express them. If you observe any of the following changes in your child, a brain injury is possible:

• A lack of energy
• Crankiness or an increase in temper tantrums
• Changes in their eating habits
• Changes in the way they play
• Altered performance in school
• Loss of interest in favorite toys
• Loss of skills, such as toilet training, reading, or writing
• Loss of coordination and balance