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About Traumatic Brain Injuries A traumatic brain injuries occur when the compression, twisting,
and distortion of the brain inside the skull due to an impact that
causes localized and widespread damage throughout the brain. Lobes
most likely
New cells can never replace brain cells that die as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Damaged brain cells are sometimes able to be recovered, as well as take over different functions to make up for any lost brain functioning. Most traumatic brain injury patients will immediately experience impairments following the TBI because of the swelling (edema) that makes it hard for the brain to work. Recovery within six months of the traumatic brain injury is the fastest, and most of the traumatic brain injury recovery will take place within the first year. Recovery following one year of the traumatic brain injury can still happen but at a slower pace. This is why Reg Prole, the chief executive of Rehab UK, feels that “It is essential that the investment in medical skills made in response to the initial brain injury is followed by the provision of appropriate rehabilitation services, including community based services and vocational training aimed at getting people back to work.”
Physical, behavioral, or mental changes are dependent upon which areas of the brain are injured. In most instances, focal brain damage is done, which is damage confined to just a small area of the brain at the point where the head has hit an object. Closed head injuries often causes scattered brain injuries or damage to other areas of the brain. An impact causing the brain to move back and forth against the skull is called diffuse damage. Frontal and temporal lobes, responsible for speech and language, are often the most affected by traumatic brain injuries because they sit in the areas of the skull that allows more room for the brain to shift and sustain injury. Frontal and temporal lobe TBIs affect speech and language, as well as voice, swallowing, walking, balancing, and coordination difficulties and changes in the ability to smell and in memory and cognitive skills.
Higher up than the brain stem is the limbic system, which helps regulate emotions. The temporal lobes are connected to the limbic system and are involved in many different cognitive skills, including memory and language. A traumatic brain injury to the temporal lobe can cause behavioral disorders or seizures in this area. The frontal lobe is almost always injured in a traumatic brain injury because it is so large in size and is located near the front of the cranium. The frontal lobe is associated to the emotional and personality control center, as well as many cognitive functions. A traumatic brain injury to the frontal lobe can lead to decreased judgment and increased impulsivity. Cognitive impairments can occur as a result from a traumatic brain injury, like trouble concentrating, trouble organizing thoughts, and becoming easily confused or forgetful. The damage from the traumatic brain injury can result in learning new information to become difficult and interpreting other’s actions will lead to social problems, like making inappropriate statements. The TBI damage can also cause problem solving, decision-making, and planning to become difficult, in addition to judgment.
Traumatic brain injuries often affect language issues like articulating words and forming sentences. When language areas are affected because of a traumatic brain injury, frustration and anger can occur because the person with the TBI trying to carry on a conversation, or others, may not even be aware of their problems communicating. Words in writing and reading situations can also become difficult when the traumatic brain injury has affected the part of the brain responsible for language. Mathematical abilities, simple or complex, are also often affected.
A traumatic brain injury can cause conditions, such as dysarthia, which starts to slow, slur, and make speech difficult to understand if the speech mechanism muscles become damaged. Swallowing can become problematic brought on by dysphagia, and a condition called apraxia can make repeating words in a consistent manner difficult.
Every year 70,000- 90,000 Americans will develop long-term disabilities from a traumatic brain injury experienced. The damage that the TBI causes can severely affect every aspect of an individual’s life, causing extreme obstacles, as well as pain and suffering. Treating traumatic brain injuries can result in high financial costs because of hospital bills, doctor’s visits, ongoing treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. The Brain Injury Association estimates hospital and fatal injury costs relating to traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. exceed $48 billion.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and would like to learn more about your legal rights, please contact us. |
The
brain stem regulates basic arousal and regulatory functions, as
well as being involved in attention and short-term memory. When
a traumatic brain injury damages this area, disorientation, frustration
and anger can result. In moderate to severe injuries swelling can
cause pressure on the brainstem. Consciousness or wakefulness can
be affected so a person may fall into a coma. 
