An injury is something that happens after you are born, not something you are born with. A brain injury can happen many ways, including from a heart attack, choking, being in a motor vehicle crash, falling down, a sports injury, in war, from violence, almost drowning, and taking too many pills or having chemotherapy.
A traumatic brain injury happens when something outside of the head comes into forceful contact with the head. Each person’s symptoms are different, depending on where the brain is injured. Some common symptoms can be short term memory loss, confusion, change in sleep patterns, change in senses (sensitivity to lights, hearing loss, vision loss, loss of sense of taste or smell), unexplained headaches, and difficulty remembering what you are reading.
People over the age of 75 have the most traumatic brain injuries. People between 25 and 40 have the second most numbers of traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injury is also the most common wound of soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are many kinds of treatment and rehabilitation services available for people with a traumatic brain injury. Examples of services include personal care services, cognitive therapy, day programs, rehabilitation, assistive technology, supported employment, and physical adaptations to a person’s home. To find out more about services, you can contact the Brain Injury Help Line, 1-866-412-4755, TTY 1-877-232-7640. You will be able to talk to a brain injury specialist who can provide information about brain injury services available in PA. The Help Line is open 8am – 8pm, Monday through Friday, and 9am – 3pm on Saturdays.
More information about Traumatic Brian Injury, visit the links below:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Traumatic Brian Injury – The most comprehensive site for traumatic brain injury information which lists resources, prevention and awareness information