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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a general term that describes a variety of injuries to the brain. TBIs generally are caused by a blow to the head that affects your brain’s operation. It can be anything from a minor jolt to a major accident. The impact leads to damage like swelling or bruising of the brain tissues.
How TBI affects the brain may be short-lived or may last for many years. Typically, if you have a mild TBI — like a concussion — you recover fully after a period of rest. Severe or repeated traumatic brain injuries often impact you for the rest of your life. In the United States, TBI is one of the major causes of death and disability.
If you suspect you have a TBI, see a TBI expert immediately. This is particularly important in children and older populations. A medical check-up is essential to determine the best treatment for a speedy recovery. If you’re in the New York or New Jersey area, reach out to the doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists. Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Leon Reyfman are the experts in rehabilitation and pain management for all types of traumatic brain injury.
Many types of traumatic brain injury exist.
The medical profession tends to break them into two broad categories:
Another way doctors categorize TBIs is by the cause of the brain injury.
There are two types of TBI based on this criterion:
Within each of these broad categories are more specific types of TBIs. You might experience one or multiple ways that your brain is affected. Evaluation and testing pinpoint the specific type.
The specific types of TBI are determined by the quality and force of impact to the head.
Through a medical history, information regarding your injury and diagnostic testing when necessary, your brain injury doctor determines the type of traumatic brain injury you have, which may include:
Many symptoms of TBI in older people are often masked by an underlying condition, such as dementia. In addition, some prescribed medications that make patients more sedated can mask cognitive decline post-TBI. These conditions make it tricky to pin down the source of the symptom. Every year researchers learn more about how TBI affects the brain.
The best advice is to seek medical attention if you suspect a concussion, contusions or hematomas. For the most up-to-date care in the New York and New Jersey area, contact the doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists. Their team of experienced professionals provide the care you need for a healthy brain.