A traumatic brain injury is an event that has an impact on the brain. Car accidents can cause falls or any other event where the head suddenly and forcefully impacts something hard or immovable. It may cause swelling in the skull, which puts pressure on different parts of the brain and thus damages it. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can lead to various disabilities, including cognitive impairment and difficulty with speech, language, memory, reasoning skills, and emotional regulation. There are many long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries like permanent disability; however, there are ways to help prevent these outcomes through rehabilitation therapy.
The traumatic nature of this contact results in changes to normal function and behavior. There are three main categories of traumatic brain injuries: concussions (mild traumatic brain injury), severe traumatic brain injury, and penetrating traumatic brain injuries.
Concussions may result from falls or blows to the head that does not break through the skull but still have enough force to make your head jerk back and forth inside your skull. These types of traumas usually leave no visible signs on the outside of your skull; however, they can be very serious because they affect both cerebral hemispheres simultaneously.
Traumatic brain injury may result from an external force that exceeds the skull and brain’s ability to withstand it. This is most common in motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults with a weapon, or high-energy sports injuries like football head trauma.
Penetrating traumatic brain injuries are usually caused by gunshots, stab wounds or shrapnel (such as those found in war zones) that pass through the skull, damaging brain tissue.
All these injuries require the assistance of a medical professional. Seek a doctor if you or someone you know have had an injury in the head.
