Acquired brain injuries

• An acquired brain injury is the result of damage to the brain that occurs after birth, at any time during life
• An ABI may be:

  • Sudden
  • Prolonged
• ABIs result in a change to the brain's structure and activity resulting in some effect on a person's biological, psychological and social functioning
• Brain imaging tests can help to identify the exact area, amount of structural damage and deficits in functioning

   
• Symptoms of an ABI may be temporary or permanent, mild to profound
• Biological effects of an ABI

  • Loss of vision or impaired hearing
  • Slurred speech
• Psychological effects of an ABI

  • Memory loss
  • Confusion
• Social effects of an ABI

  • Socially inappropriate behaviour
  • Losing touch with friends
• Recovery from an ABI depends on the cause, extent and location of the damage, as well as the person's age and health
• Rehabilitation can gradually help a person regain some of their lost physical functioning and independent living skills from an ABI
• Neuroplasticity can help repair neural pathways or form new ones to compensate for lost functions and therefore restore some abilities following an ABI
• TBI (type of ABI) occurs when there is sudden physical trauma to the brain from an external force
• The degree of damage depends on the severity of the incident which is often measured by how long a person loses consciousness