Brain Injury Basics

What is a Brain Injury?

“Every day, 99 New Zealanders sustain a brain injury. Brain injuries are more common than you think, and can happen to anyone at anytime.”

Brain injury is a general term referring to any injury to the brain. Brain injury ranges from mild to moderate to severe, depending on the type of injury.

THE CAUSES

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TBI can occur when an external trauma to the head causes damage to the brain.There are two types of TBI:

  • Closed TBI occurs when there is an blunt impact or blow to the head but the skull is not penetrated or fractured.

  • Open TBI occurs when there is an impact to the brain and the skull has been penetrated or fractured.

The major causes of TBI are car crashes, sports injuries, assaults and falls.
The highest risk groups for sustaining TBI are children under 5 years of age, men aged 15 -30 years, and the elderly.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

ABI is brain damage caused after birth by events such as:

  • Strokes and aneurysms

  • Infections

  • Meningitis and encephalitis

  • Hypoxia / anoxia

  • Cerebral tumours

  • Metabolic disorders

  • Drugs and alcohol

  • Gases (carbon monoxide)

  • Solvents

  • Pesticides

  • Lead poisoning

Whatever the cause the resulting damage can have a huge impact on the person’s life affecting the individual’s abilities physically, cognitively and emotionally.

“A new brain injury occurs every 15 minutes in New Zealand, far surpassing the number of heart attacks and more than five times the number of new strokes. The estimated cost on the health system is $100 million a year, but it is expected that this figure will rise significantly. A brain injury, including stroke and traumatic brain injury, is the leading cause of disability and death in New Zealand. However, the real cost in terms of rehabilitation, family impact and far reaching social implications for people whose head injury lasts a lifetime, is incalculable.”
— THE BIONIC (BRAIN INJURY OUTCOMES NZ IN THE COMMUNITY) STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE LANCET 22 NOVEMBER 2012

THE EFFECTS

There are many effects from a brain injury, people will be affected differently.  Everyone is different in the way that they react to a brain injury.

Some may experience a period of unconsciousness lasting minutes, days or in some cases months.

No one can be sure of the eventual outcome because the brain is so complicated. Recovery is dependent on various factors some are the severity of the injury, length of time unconscious, opportunities for rehabilitation, mental and physical wellbeing. Recovery after brain injury can take weeks or months of rehabilitation with the possibility of some residual impairment.

IMPACT OF THE INJURY

A brain injury may affect a person physically, and emotionally, as well as impacting cognition, memory, sensory perception, personality and the ability to communicate.

Ongoing problems may include:

  • Cognitive problems. Difficulties with thinking clearly, maintaining concentration, problem solving and completing projects.

  • Memory problems. Particularly with learning and remembering new information.

  • Physical problems. With sense of balance, fatigue causing reduced mental and physical stamina, slower reflexes and headaches.

  • Sensory problems. Lower tolerance to light and noise, or problems with taste, smell and touch. Difficulties in crowded places.

  • Communication difficulties. Finding the right words, making it difficult to express yourself or your ability to understand others.

  • Personality changes. Irritability, intolerance, depression, anxiety, emotionally fragile, socially inappropriate behaviour and mood swings.

  • Loss of contact with friends and associates.

IMPACT ON FAMILY & WHANAU

A brain injury doesn’t only affect the individual, the whole family is affected.

Families face many difficulties including:

  • The rollercoaster of emotions that a brain injury brings, it can involve coping with intensive care and other medical treatments and trying to understand a lot of new information

  • Changes in relationships / roles

  • Financial difficulties

  • Legal issues

  • Isolation and stress while supporting someone with an injury

  • Having to engage with organisations such as ACC, Work & Income around entitlements

  • Anxiety around the future as well as adjusting to how the impact the injury impacts on the individual and other family members/ friends.

  • Stress.