Being a social worker on a brain injury unit, I see the major effects that brain injury can have on individuals. I would say that the majority of the brain injury's that come to my unit are drug/alcohol related. Which is really sad because they could have been prevents. But then I also see the brain injuries that couldn't have been prevented such as viral encephalitis.
This year, the Brain Injury Association of America is focusing on the creating awareness about concussions. This is very real in our society and now even Professional Sports are taking measures to prevent concussions because they see the effects of brain injury. The most recent, highly publicized, incident that we all heard about was former NFL player, Dave Duerson, committing suicide and donating his brain for research to assess the long term neurological affects that occurred from his stint in the NFL. There is more great information about concussions found here: A Concussion is a Brain Injury. Get the Facts. This is a very scary, but real fact and having a son of my own, it really makes you think.
Here are some facts about brain injury that I got from the CDC website:
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that
disrupts the function of the brain. 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. A TBI can result in short or long-term
problems with independent function.
How many people have TBI?
Of the 1.4 million who sustain a TBI each year in the United States:
- 50,000 die;
-235,000 are hospitalized; and
-1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
-The number of people with TBI who are not seen in an emergency department or who
receive no care is unknown.
What causes TBI?
The leading causes of TBI are:
-Falls (28%);
- Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
- Struck by/against events (19%); and
-Assaults (11%).
-Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.
Who is at highest risk for TBI?
-Males are about 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.
-The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are 0 to 4 year olds and 15 to 19 year olds.
-Certain military duties (e.g., paratrooper) increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.
- African Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.
What are the costs of TBI?
Direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity of TBI totaled an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000.
What are the long-term consequences of TBI?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans currently
have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a TBI. According to one study, about 40% of those hospitalized with a TBI had at least one unmet need for
services one year after their injury. The most frequent unmet needs were:
- Improving memory and problem solving;
-Managing stress and emotional upsets;
-Controlling one's temper; and
- Improving one's job skills.
TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior,
and/or sensation. It can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.
Brain Injury is very real and it is a topic that is near and dear to my heart so please be aware of the seriousness and take precaution!
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