Traumatic Brain Injury

It is an injury to the brain, either by a blow to the head or from being shaken violently. Traumatic brain injuries can affect areas of cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem solving, sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions, information processing, and speech.

Traumatic brain injury, also called TBI, can affect different parts of the brain. For example the brain stem, frontal lobe, or temporal lobe may be affected by a traumatic brain injury. The effects of TBI will vary with location. The injury can change the way a person acts, thinks, and moves. Traumatic brain injury can affect an individual physically, cognitively and/or emotionally.

• More than one million children sustain a traumatic brain injury each year.
• In the U.S., traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for children and adolescents.
• Traumatic brain injuries are most common in ages between 15 and 24.
• Most common causes of traumatic brain injuries are car crashes, falls, sport-related injuries, and abuse.
• Traumatic brain injury, by law, is a disability.
• School-aged children with traumatic brain injury may qualify for special education services.
• Car accidents are the cause of 50% of traumatic brain injuries.
• Males have a higher likelihood than females of obtaining a traumatic brain injury.