A traumatic brain injury can potentially rob you of mental acuity or even curtail a child’s development. They’re common, hard to predict, and sometimes devastating to manage. However, cognitive therapy can help.
If you or someone you loved has experienced traumatic brain injury, it’s crucial to get help right away. Our team at A Cognitive Connection understands this condition and will help you with cognitive therapy and brain-boosting treatments. With our support, you can stay mentally strong and healthy for years to come. Please read on to learn more about traumatic brain injuries, how they impact you, and the many ways our experts can help you recover.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a “…brain injury that is caused by an outside force.” These include two main types: penetrating and non-penetrating TBI. Penetrating TBI occurs when something pierces the skull and cuts into the brain, such as a bullet. Non-penetrating TBI happens when the brain moves and hits the inside of the skull, potentially bruising or even damaging significant sections.
They go on to state that a TBI can cause temporary or long-term problems, disabilities, and even death. People with a TBI might have issues with their cognitive, mental, emotional, and behavioral health. In some cases, people with a traumatic brain injury seem to “become a completely different person” and behave erratically or even dangerously. Frighteningly, some might not notice symptoms right away but develop severe problems as their injury worsens.
For instance, primary injuries show immediate changes in mood, behavior, and emotion and typically get caught almost right away. However, secondary brain injuries might occur hours, days, or weeks after the initial injury and usually require a specialist to spot them. These issues might include gradual emotional changes over a few weeks that might seem disconnected from the brain injury. That’s why immediate medical attention is so important after any TBI.
Severities of TBI to Watch
According to the CDC, there are three main severities of TBI to understand. These include:
- Mild TBI or Concussion: Most TBI cases are concussions, which are caused by sharp blows or jolts to the head. The term “mild” doesn’t mean they aren’t serious: just usually not life-threatening. If you suspect you or your child have one, you need medical help.
- Moderate TBI: A moderate TBI typically causes long-term problems, including lingering cognitive issues, emotional unbalance, and even dementia. They’re often caused by severe falls and car crashes and are heavily linked to firearm-assisted suicides.
- Severe TBI: A severe TBI could be life-threatening the moment it happens and requires immediate emergency care. People with this condition have a 26% chance of improving but a 30% chance of getting worse, especially if they don’t get medical support.
Some Sobering Statistics
The CDC regularly posts injury and death statistics for various health conditions, including traumatic brain injuries of all types. In their most recent report, they state that TBIs remain “a major cause of death” across the nation with some pretty unreal numbers. Even a quick glance at these statistics is a shocking experience and a cause for alarm. According to this report:
- There are around 214,000 TBI-related hospitalizations every year
- That’s 16,500 monthly, 586 daily, and 24 hourly
- About 69,000 people die every year from TBI-related hospitalizations
- That’s 5,300 people monthly, 189 daily, and nearly 8 hourly
- People over 75 account for 32% of all TBI hospitalizations and 28% of all TBI deaths
- Men were two times more likely to be hospitalized and three times more likely to die from TBI than women
To help you face this pandemic of TBI, our team at A Cognitive Connection provides multiple resources and cognitive therapy services to assist your recovery. In addition to an extensive range of high-quality treatments, we have a comprehensive blog with information, tips, and cognitive support tools. With our assistance, you can get through this condition and rebuild much of your lost cognitive strength.
Note: these numbers only indicate reported and treated cases of TBI. Far more cases are likely occurring every year without treatment simply because people don’t know they were hurt.
How Is a TBI Caused?
Just about any kind of injury that impacts your head can trigger a TBI, especially if it somehow cuts or seriously damages the brain. The most severe types almost always include penetrating factors. However, non-penetrating traumatic brain injuries can be just as devastating if the force is severe enough. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development outlined some of the most common traumatic brain injury causes, including:
- Falls: By far the most common cause of TBI, falls can impact just about everybody. However, older adults are more commonly affected by falls due to balance or strength issues. According to the CDC, around 17,000 fall-related TBI deaths occur yearly.
- Motor Vehicle Crashes: Car crashes occur daily nationwide and cause 14% of all TBI cases. During many accidents, the forces involved can cause mild to severe traumatic brain injuries and may severely impact a person’s cognitive health.
- Sports: The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that out of the 1.7 to 3.8 million traumatic brain injuries every year, 10% are due to athletic competition. They’re most common in children playing contact sports, such as football or rugby.
- Gunshots: In a report by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, it was found that 12% of all TBI occur due to gunshots. Gunshot wounds to the head cause penetrating injuries that can severely and permanently impact a person’s brain health.
- Assaults: Assaults (including fist fights and other altercations) comprise 10% of all known TBI cases. Victim Service Center of Central Florida reports that these numbers might even be higher because only a fraction of assault cases get reported.
What Are Its Symptoms?
The trouble with traumatic brain injuries is that so few people truly understand their symptoms. For example, secondary TBI might develop days after the initial damage and get explained away or even ignored. Any time you or a loved one experiences a blow to the head, it’s essential to look for the following symptoms to ensure you’re safe and protected.
Mild TBI or Concussion Symptoms
Many people experience a concussion at least once in their lives. In particular, athletes like football players know mild TBI all too well, with many professionals ending their careers after one too many. Again, we want to emphasize that the term “mild” does a concussion a disservice. It’s a severe problem, one that requires medical help to manage symptoms such as:
- Dizziness immediately after the impact and for hours after
- Confusion that pairs with a severe and debilitating headache
- Lightheadedness and blurred vision that will clear up with time
- Ringing in the ears that may get a little bit better after the injury
- Tiredness or sleepiness that could cause severe unconsciousness or sleep changes
- Mood or behavior changes right after the injury and days later
- Trouble remembering, concentrating, paying attention, or thinking
- Sudden loss of consciousness that could last for a few minutes
- Mild to moderate nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound that may wax and wane in intensity
Most people experience these side effects right after the injury, after which they decrease in severity and become more manageable. However, that doesn’t mean that the danger is over. Concussions linger for years and may increase your risk of another in the future. Even worse, multiple concussions can lead to moderate or severe TBI and even death.
Moderate or Severe TBI Symptoms
Those with more severe TBI cases might develop all the symptoms listed for mild TBI and concussions. However, these issues likely last far longer (years, if not permanently) and come with many other side effects that can impact an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and mental health for years to come. Just a few of the most common of these severe symptoms include:
- Loss of vision in one or more eyes
- Repeating vomiting for several days
- Continued nausea that won’t lift
- Headaches that get severe and refuse to go away
- Slurred speech or difficulty communicating properly
- Convulsions or seizures immediately after the injury or later
- Trouble or inability to wake up from sleep
- Larger pupils in one or more eyes
- Numbness or “tingling” throughout legs and arms
- Clumsy movements or a sudden loss of coordination
- Confusion, restlessness, and agitation that won’t improve
- Sudden loss of consciousness that could last for minutes to hours
Like mild TBI, these symptoms are most severe immediately after the injury. However, they might also linger for days, weeks, or months after and even worsen. That’s a severe problem that requires help from a team you can trust. Our many satisfied clients can attest to our ability to manage cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues with grace, dignity, and respect.
How Does TBI Impact a Person’s Mental and Cognitive Health?
Beyond the adverse symptoms mentioned above, a traumatic brain injury can cause temporary or even permanent changes to a person’s mental, emotional, and cognitive health. Children and older adults experience some of the worst symptoms because their brains are often more delicate. As a result, it’s critical to track these issues and ensure they get managed ASAP with a tool like cognitive therapy.
Cognitive Decline
After even a mild concussion, you might experience cognitive decline that makes it harder to think straight and focus. These symptoms might feel similar to dementia or might even contribute to a worsening case of this condition. Managing this problem through cognitive training can help you stay sharp and reduce your potential symptoms successfully.
Loss of Coordination
Many people experience worsened coordination after mild to severe traumatic brain injuries. They may struggle to walk safely, might have a hard time writing, or could even lose control of their bladder or bowels. Typically, cognitive behavioral therapy can help provide coping mechanisms for these problems and make it easier for you to handle them effectively.
Depression
People with TBI experience depression for a few reasons. First, many realize that they’ve lost some of their mental sharpness and fall into a depressive state. Others develop depression due to the injury, as damaged brain tissues can cause chemical imbalances that cognitive behavioral therapy can teach you to understand and manage. Medicines may also be necessary.
Anxiety
Similarly to depression, people with TBI might develop extreme anxiety. Some might feel unable to handle their day-to-day tasks with the same competence or experience chemical imbalances. Thankfully, behavioral therapy can help manage stress in teens and adults with TBI. This therapy will focus on teaching you how to spot and manage anxiety attacks efficiently.
Anger Problems
People with TBI commonly experience anger-control issues that can make life very difficult. For instance, they might struggle to avoid rage incidents or even physically lash out at loved ones. This troubling behavior requires cognitive behavioral therapy and other powerful treatments to manage. Taking care of it with our team can help you avoid long-term complications.
Ways We Can Help
Our team understands cognitive training and can help you rebuild your mind after a traumatic brain injury. We’ll provide various personalized treatments that make your recovery easier and minimize potential complications. While we can’t promise that you’ll walk away with all your skills again, we’ll fight harder for you than anyone else to get your brain back into shape.
Cognitive Brain Training: A Powerful Tool for Recovery
At A Cognitive Connection, our team can provide cognitive brain training therapies to help you recover from a TBI. Note that these methods can help restore much of your cognitive and mental health but can’t handle the physical symptoms you might experience. However, even 10 minutes a day of mental exercises can boost your abilities using our powerful techniques.
For instance, V.I.B.E.S., or Vibrational Individualized Body Enhancement System from Bioharmonic Technologies, uses sound, energy, vibrations, and frequencies to balance your brain chemistry in powerful ways. It can help reawaken your nervous system and promote healing throughout the brain while calming your nerves after your serious TBI incident.
Similarly, Mind’s Eye (from Theta Technologies) is a mental fitness system that uses light and sound to create a profoundly calming state. Using this tool, you can visualize your goals more efficiently, fall asleep easier, and manage anxiety more effectively. That’s hugely beneficial for those with TBI, as it can manage many of your most troubling symptoms carefully.
Other Therapies We Can Provide
Beyond these treatments, we can also provide various behavioral support systems that make it easier for you to recover from a traumatic brain injury. For example, a behavioral assessment can help us better understand the changes in your behavior and find care methods for you. Counseling and consultation let us get into the nitty gritty of your behavioral struggles and create a cognitive therapy plan to help you cope with cognitive and mental changes after a TBI.
Contact Us At A Cognitive Connection Today
Managing a traumatic brain injury doesn’t have to feel like a losing proposition when you contact us at A Cognitive Connection. While we can’t treat the physical side of this injury, we can help you and your child recover mentally with cognitive therapy that makes coping more effective. Please contact us today by calling (719) 358-6637. Our team of experts will set up your appointment, talk with you, and find a therapy that suits your specific needs.
