Traumatic Brain Injury

A brain injury refers to anything that causes brain cell death and impairments in functioning. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is when an external force to the head or a penetrating head injury disrupts the function of the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull & enters brain tissue. The causes of TBI are diverse. The top three causes are: vehicle crashes, firearms and falls.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) includes not only injuries caused by external force, but also internal insults to the brain including, but not limited to, tumors, strokes, infections, metabolic disorders, and lack of oxygen.

Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from "mild", i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to "severe", i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury with significant impairment in functioning. A TBI can result in short or long-term problems with functioning in an independent manner.