Attend Factsheet 1k:
Introduction
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is usually caused by a serious blow to the head, usually in road traffic accidents, falls, or assaults. These head injuries are rare, but can happen to anyone without warning. “Around 135,000 people are admitted to the hospital each year with a traumatic brain injury. The age groups most at risk are those aged 15-29 and over 65. Males are two or three times more likely to sustain a brain injury than females.” Brain Injuries can have many effects on everyday life from Physical and Cognitive effects to emotional and behavioural effects.
Physical Effects
After a brain injury the after effects can affect one’s mobility, spasticity, weakness paralysis, ataxia, sensory impairment, fatigue, difficulties in speech, and epilepsy. It is important to be aware of the changes. Mobility can be affected by making movement slow and balance changing. It is possible that a wheelchair may be needed to help one get around more freely. Spasticity can be present after a brain injury making limbs stiff or weak. In most cases one side of the body is affected more than the other. This also affects weakness or paralysis effects. It is possible that one side of the body may be weaker or paralysed. This leads to the need for help for personal care. Continence aids may be needed for muscle weakness. Ataxia is usually spastic uncontrolled movements or tremors that affect the co-ordination of movements. This may cause difficulty in writing. Sensory impairment is where the sensation of touch on the skin is reduced, which makes it hard for the person to know where their limbs are positioned. Eyesight can also be affected and not always fixed with prescribed glasses. Often with sensory impairment odd posture and walking patterns can be found. Taste and sense of smell can also be reduced or lost. Fatigue is extreme tiredness, which makes tasks that were once easy much harder to do. Naps and resting can really help with fatigue. There can often be difficulties with speech which makes it hard to understand the person’s speech, or the person may repeat themselves over, or cannot speak at all. Epilepsy is where after a brain injury a person becomes more prone to seizures or fits.
Cognitive Effects
Cognitive effects deal more with problems with memory. After a brain injury there is usually a problem with short-term memory. Someone who has an ABI will find that they have trouble remembering names; faces or what has been read or said to them. This can greatly affect new learning, because the injured brain is no longer able to organise and remember new material. Language loss (aphasia) can also be found after a brain injury. It can be a receptive problem in not understanding what is said or an expressive problem which the difficulty of finding the words to express what wants to be said. This can lead to reduced initiation and therefore problems with motivation. There may also be a reduced attention span, making it hard to concentrate on or complete tasks. Reduced problem solving ability may occur, as it is hard to organise facts in the mind and there may be impaired reasoning or impaired judgement. Repetition can occur because after a brain injury changing conversation topics becomes more difficult.
Emotional and Behavioural Effects
A brain injury can come with a lot of emotional effects for the person who suffered the brain injury and their loved ones. It can create a feeling of isolation for the person and their family. It is important to take the time to grieve for what has been lost and acknowledge it but then leave it alone. It is important to move on and look towards the future. After a brain injury we may find that mood swings occur. A person with ABI may laugh or cry easily and possibly move from one emotional state to another. It is important to reassure them and stay calm. It is important to do this when a person with ABI demonstrates obsessive behaviour. Depression and sense of loss will occur after a brain injury. It is important to understand the person’s feelings and be a good listener. Anxiety can also occur, because one has had their life changed for ever in a matter of seconds. They may feel that their future looks bleak. Anxiety can quickly turn into frustration and anger. It is important to alleviate anxiety as early as possible. Frustration can build up quickly leading to anger. It is important to release anger safely, by releasing energy in a positive outlet. Abusive or obscene language could be used from this anger, it is important to not take it personally and remain calm. It is possible that Disinhibition will occur, where the person will have lost control over social behaviour, which may lead to sexual advances with the wrong people at the wrong time. It is important to encourage socially accepted behaviour. A person with ABI may act impulsively. It is important to show the consequences of impulsive behaviour.
Coping in the Longer Term
It seems that many people think of a brain injury as a single event, where the accident happens, but this is not the case. The aftermath of a brain injury can lead to a long journey. It is important to take this journey one day at a time. Keeping a diary can help you see the progress that has been made, as well as provide insight to the situation, and like any long journey it is important to rest every now and then. It is important to get support and help.
Contact
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