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Brain Injury fact sheet
Note: Anixter Center operates a program called New Focus, a community reintegration program that provides comprehensive rehabilitation to adults who have experienced brain injuries in order to better facilitate their transition from the hospital to life and work in the community. In conjunction with Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Care Network, New Focus serves individuals who have not had the opportunity for complete brain injury rehabilitation.
General Information
There are two types of brain injury, Traumatic Brain Injury and Acquired Brain Injury. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain, not of degenerative or congenital nature, caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. Examples of causes include vehicle accidents, assault, gunshot wounds, and falls. Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative that has occurred after birth, including anoxia, aneurysms, infections to the brain and stroke.
Relevant Statistics
- 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year.
- Each year, 80,000 Americans experience the onset of long-term disability following traumatic brain injury.
- More than 50,000 people die every year as a result of traumatic brain injury.
- The risk of traumatic brain injury is highest among adolescents, young adults, and those older than 75.
- After one brain injury, the risk for a secondary injury is three times greater; after the second injury, the risk for a third injury is eight times greater.
Causes
- Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injury.
- Falls are the second-leading cause.
- Other causes include those associated with assaults and firearms, among others.
Identifying Characteristics of Brain Injury
1. Cognitive consequences can include
- A lack of ability to initiate activities or difficulty in completing tasks without reminders
- Difficulty keeping up with a conversation and other communication difficulties such as word finding problems (aphasia)
- Lack of awareness of one’s own impairments
- Organizational problems and impaired judgment
- Short-term memory loss and/or long-term memory loss
- Slowed ability to process information
- Spatial disorientation
- Trouble concentrating or paying attention for periods of time
- Inability to do more than one thing at a time
2. Physical consequences can include
- Ambulation impairment
- Balance problems
- Double vision or low vision, even blindness
- Fatigue, increased need for sleep
- Headaches or migraines
- Loss of smell or taste
- Muscle spasticity
- Seizures of all types
- Speech impairments such as slow or slurred speech
3. Emotional consequences can include
- Depression and mood swings
- Egocentric behaviors; difficulty seeing how behaviors can affect others; decreased interpersonal skills
- Impulsive behavior
- Increased anxiety
- More easily agitated
Clinical Techniques
An interdisciplinary team is assembled, including some or all of the following professionals: case manager/social worker; dance/movement therapist; educational specialist; occupational therapist; physical therapist; psychologist; recreation therapist; speech-language pathologist; and vocational specialist. These professionals conduct assessments and therapies to increase:
academic skills building; advocacy skills; awareness of disability;cognitive retraining; compensatory strategies (mental and physical); independent living skills; interpersonal skills/family adjustment; problem-solving abilities; recreation/use of leisure time; vocational and job seeking skills. These activities are conducted individually and/or in groups.
Additional Resources
To learn more about Anixter Center ’s New Focus Program, contact Anixter Center ’s Public Relations Department at (773) 973-7900, Ext. 243 or Ext. 228.
Contact the Brain Injury Association of Illinois at 1-800-699-6443 (e-mail: biail@yahoo.com ) and/or the National Brain Association and Family Helpline at 1-800-444-6443.
Web Sites
Note : Much of this information was found on the Web site of the Brain Injury Association of America. (See Web site URLs, above.)
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