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Traumatic Brain Injury

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also called acquired brain injury or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. A person with a mild TBI may remain conscious or may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Other symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking. A person with a moderate or severe TBI may show these same symptoms, but may also have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.

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What Causes TBI?

The leading causes of brain injury are motor vehicle crashes, violence and falls. Falls are the leading cause among persons aged 65 years and older and 5 years of age and under, whereas transportation-related injuries are most frequent among persons ages 5 to 64.

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How is TBI treated at FAC?

The overall goal of rehabilitation after a TBI is to improve the patient's ability to function at home and in society. Therapists help the patient adapt to disabilities or change the patient's living space, called environmental modification, to make everyday activities easier. Therapy will involve learning new ways to compensate for abilities that have permanently changed due to brain injury.

  • Physical Therapy
    The physical therapist focuses on improving physical function by addressing muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination. Functional goals include increasing independent ability with walking, getting in and out of bed, on and off a toilet, or in and out of a bathtub. Physical therapists provide training with assistive devices such as canes or walkers for ambulation.

  • Occupational Therapy
    Areas addressed by occupational therapists include:
    Feeding; swallowing; grooming; bathing; dressing; toileting; mobilizing the body on and off the toilet, bed, chair, bathtub; thinking skills; vision; sensation; driving; homemaking; money management; fine motor (movement of small body muscles, such as in the hands); wheelchair positioning and mobility; home evaluation; durable medical equipment assessment and training.

  • Speech Therapy
    They will evaluate a person’s ability to express oneself (speech, written, or otherwise expressed) and comprehend what is seen or heard. A speech/language pathologist trains a person to use assistive technology as an alternative form of communication if the person is unable to verbalize. The speech/language pathologist focuses on the muscles in the face, mouth, and throat. They also address swallowing issues.

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What to Expect When Your Child Is Diagnosed with TBI

When dealing with pediatric brain injury, it is important to recognize that children are not simply smaller versions of adults. Unlike adults, the effects of brain injury on brain function interact with the maturation or development of the child. Skills that are emerging or developing may be affected differently by brain injury than skills that are already established. Outcomes from pediatric brain injury are rarely predictable. As the child’s brain is still maturing, the full impact of a brain injury may not become evident for many months or even years.

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Where can a parent get help?

If you have a concern about this diagnosis regarding your child, please contact your pediatrician. If your child’s doctor feels treatment is necessary, FAC’s physical therapists have extensive training in this area. Your physician can write out a prescription for evaluation and treatment, which can be faxed to our clinic:
651-738-9889.

 

Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact our front desk and ask to speak with a therapist.

 

Reference for this summary information provided by the Brain Injury Association of America

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Other information links to TBI

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