What disabilities are associated with different areas of brain injury?

Answer 1

There are many different types of brain injury, depending upon the severity of the force upon the head, as well as which portion of the brain is affected. To simplify, brain injuries can be classified as traumatic or acquired, with additional types under each heading. All brain injuries are described as either mild, moderate, or severe. Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury is a result of an external force to the brain that results in a change to cognitive, physical, or emotional functioning. The impairments can be temporary or permanent. Types of traumatic brain injury include: * Diffuse axonal injury. Shaking or strong rotation of the head causes brain structures to tear. Nerve tissue is disturbed throughout the brain. * Concussion. Caused by a physical force to the head that causes blood vessels to stretch and cranial nerves to be damaged. * Contusion. A result of a direct impact to the head, which causes bleeding on the brain. * Coup-contrecoup injury. The force to the brain is large enough to cause contusion at the side of impact, as well as the site opposite impact. * Penetration injury. The impact causes a foreign object to penetrate the skull. Acquired Brain Injury An acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or the result of birth trauma. Acquired brain injury generally affects cells throughout the entire brain. Types of acquired brain injury include: • Axnoxic brain injury. This occurs when the brain doesn't receive oxygen.

• Hypoxic brain injury. This occurs when the brain receives some, but not enough, oxygen. Levels of Brain Injury The Glascow Coma Scale is used to describe the level of initial injury relative to the neurological severity caused to the brain. Mild traumatic brain injury occurs when loss of consciousness does not occur or occurs very briefly, and testing or scans of the brain seem normal. Moderate traumatic brain injury occurs when loss of consciousness lasts a few minutes to a few hours, confusion lasts for days or weeks, and physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments are evident. Severe brain injury occurs when unconsciousness or coma lasts days, weeks, or months, and is characterized by permanent physical, cognitive, or emotional impairments.