What is Brain Injury?
Statistics tell us that 90 people a day sustain a brain injury in New Zealand. That's 630 a week - over 30 000 people a year - and that figure takes no account of those that go unreported! But what does the term "brain injury" really mean?
Somtimes referred to as head injury, brain injury is damage to living brain tissue caused often by external forces as in road, sports and work accidents. It is usually accompanied by a period of unconsciousness lasting from minutes to months. Brain injury can also be the result of strokes, tumours and other medical problems such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Brain injuries are commonly referred to as either "acquired" or "traumatic" to distinguish between medical and accidental causes respectively.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when damage is caused to the brain by an external force such as in a car accident, assault or sporting impact. The most common TBI is concussion.
The term Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is often used to refer to injury occurring as a result of strokes, tumours and other medical problems - including drug and alcohol abuse. (Strictly speaking however, "traumatic" injuries are also "acquired" - just acquired in different ways.)
Effects of brain injury...
A brain injury affects people in many different ways. Two people can have exactly the same accident, but have a completely different outcome. Because the brain is so complicated, no one can ever be sure of the ongoing effects. Many people with brain injury improve over time and an early diagnosis can mean better care, which may result in an easier recovery. It depends on how badly and what part of the brain was damaged.
Common effects of brain injury can include fatigue, irritability, memory problems, speech and language difficulties.
Ongoing problems
People who suffer a brain injury also frequently experience ongoing problems with:
- relationships - with partners, friends and associates
- physical abilities - impairment of balance, reduced stamina, slower reflexes, headaches
- senses - lower tolerance to light and noise and problems with taste, smell and touch
- personality changes - depression, anxiety, mood swings, socially inappropriate behaviour
- cognitive disabilities - difficulty in thinking clearly and maintaining concentration, problem solving and tiredness.
Family problems
Families face difficulties such as:
- shock,
- relationship problems,
- financial problems,
- isolation,
- having to deal with ACC and health authorities,
- adjusting to changes in the injured person
- and the stresses of caring for him or her.