Traumatic Brain Injury
No two traumatic brain injuries are the same; each patient will experience different symptoms and have different emotional responses to their injury or disability. One part of the brain may be affected, or the injury may impact many different areas of the brain.
According to the Brain Injury Association of Canada, more than 50,000 Canadians suffer traumatic brain injuries each year, and 11,000 die.
“Traumatic brain injury is damage to the brain caused by an external force, such as a car accident, or a fall, or a sports injury,” says Dr. Brad Hallam, a neuropsychologist at Vancouver Coastal Health who is also active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “The term 'concussion' is actually used interchangeably with mild traumatic brain injury.”
If a patient has a mild traumatic brain injury, the loss of consciousness or change in mental state will be brief. More severe traumatic brain injuries can involve loss of consciousness for hours, days, or weeks. While many people are able to resume normal activities soon after a mild traumatic brain injury, any mild to severe traumatic brain injury can result in symptoms such as nerve damage, cognitive disabilities, and personality changes, causing patients and their loved ones a great deal of stress.
When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine the extent of the damage. A patient may undergo X-rays, an MRI or a CT scan to detect the brain injury. However, a brain injury may not be found through traditional medical imaging, and a patient will need neuropsychological testing to assess cognitive functioning.
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Read more about Traumatic Brain Injury:
Advanced Procedures to Detect Traumatic Brain Injury (Neuropsychological Assessment)
Using 'Independent Medical Assessment' (IMA) to detect Traumatic Brain Injury
