What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

• Moderate-to-severe TBIs are most commonly acquired in motor vehicle crashes, with other causes including falls, bicycle accidents, assaults and sports injuries.
• A higher percentage of mild TBIs are caused by sports injuries.
• A TBI typically affects the way that a person thinks, feels, and behaves.

The outcome of acquired brain injury depends on the cause of the injury and on the location, severity, and extent of neurological damage. Common issues associated with a TBI include:

• Seizures, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia
• Headaches, dizziness, pain, and sleep disturbances
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, talking, swallowing, eating, and drinking
• Cognitive impairment impacting memory, language, reading and writing
• Personality and behavioural changes including irritability, impatience, and socialising
• Motor deficits which may impact the person’s ability to walk, including paralysis, muscle stiffness, and uncontrolled movements.

References:
www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au
www.racgp.org.au