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Traumatic
brain injury is sudden physical damage to
the brain. The head forcefully hitting an
object, a closed head injury, may cause
the damage or by something passing through
the skull and piercing the brain, like a
gunshot wound, penetrating head injury.
The major cause of traumatic brain injury
is from motor vehicle accidents. Other causes
include falls, sports injuries, violent
crimes, and child abuse.
Physical, behavioral, or
mental changes are dependent upon which
areas of the brain are injured. Most often
focal brain damage is done, which is damage
confined to just a small area of the brain.
This point is usually where the head has
hit an object. Closed head injuries often
times causes scattered brain injuries or
damage to other areas of the brain. Diffuse
damage is the result of an impact causing
the brain to move back and forth against
the skull. Frontal and temporal lobes, responsible
for speech and language, are often the most
affected because they sit in the areas of
the skull that allows more room for the
brain to shift and sustain injury. Speech
and language is therefore affected, as well
as voice, swallowing, walking, balancing,
and coordination difficulties and changes
in the ability to smell and in memory and
cognitive skills.
The Effects of Traumatic
Brain Injury
The effects of the brain
damage are generally greatest immediately
following the injury. However, long-term
problems are difficult to assess because
some damage may be caused by contusion,
bruising of the brain that is usually temporary.
Focal damage may result in long-term and
permanent difficulties. Other areas of the
brain can learn to take over the functions
of the damaged areas over time and can improve
the condition. When a traumatic brain injury
occurs in a child they may progress better
than an adult because their brain has a
greater capability to be flexible.
The brain stem regulates
basic arousal and regulatory functions,
as well as being involved in attention and
short-term memory. When a traumatic brain
injury occurs and affects this area disorientation,
frustration and anger can result. In moderate
to severe injuries swelling can cause pressure
on the brainstem. Consciousness or wakefulness
can be affected so a person may fall into
a coma.
Higher up in the brain,
than the brain stem, is the limbic system,
which helps regulate emotions. The temporal
lobes are connected to the limbic system
and are involved in many different cognitive
skills, including memory and language. Behavioral
disorders have resulted from damage to the
temporal lobes, or seizures in this area.
Almost always, the frontal lobe is injured
in traumatic brain injuries because it is
so large in size and is located near the
front of the cranium. The frontal lobe is
considered the emotional and personality
control center, as well as many cognitive
functions. Damage to the frontal lobe can
lead to decreased judgment and increased
impulsivity.
Traumatic brain injury
can cause cognitive impairments, like trouble
concentrating, trouble organizing thoughts,
and becoming easily confused or forgetful,
may occur in conscious people. Learning
new information may be difficult and interpreting
actions of others will lead to social problems,
like making inappropriate statements. Problem
solving, decision-making, and planning could
be difficult as well as judgment.
Language issues like articulating
words and forming sentences may become difficult
after TBI. Frustration and anger can be
directed at the other person because of
the difficulties a person with TBI can experience
when trying to carry on a conversation or
others may not even be aware of their errors.
Reading and writing becomes a problem also.
Mathematical abilities, simple or complex,
are also often affected.
A traumatic brain injury
can cause conditions, such as dysarthia,
which starts to slow, slur, and make speech
difficult to understand if the speech mechanism
muscles become damaged. Swallowing can become
problematic brought on by dysphagia, and
a condition called apraxia can make repeating
words in a consistent manner difficult.
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