March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. As the month comes to a close, it is important to discuss what causes– and what happens during– a traumatic brain injury (TBI). After all, TBI’s effects over 2.5 million individuals in the United States.

What is a TBI?

Simply, a TBI is a physical injury to the brain. However, the injury comes from a physical outside impact or the brain’s impact with the skull. A TBI does not refer to hypoxia (lack of oxygen to brain), stroke, or tumor. Instead, the major causes of TBI are falls (28%), car crashes (20%), and blunt force from an object (19%). After initial assault, further damage could be done in what is known as a secondary injury. An example of a secondary injury is restricted blood flow to a region of the brain.

“I am confused. Do I have a concussion or a TBI?”

The short answer is: most likely both! That is because a concussion, by definition, is a type of brain injury often referred to a mild TBI (mTBI). A concussion is therefore a type of brain injury that, depending on the severity, can be quite serious. Sports players are especially vulnerable due to physical contact with the skull. If you are experiencing headaches, fatigue, and/or poor balance, it is wise to make a consultation before continuing intense physical exercise. To learn more about concussions, check out the Pathways website!

What happens to your brain during a TBI?

The human brain is an astonishing organ, weighing in at roughly over  three pounds  and consisting of 86 billion neurons (brain cells). The texture of the brain can be best compared to that of gelatin. The skull is a hard protective barrier between the delicate brain tissue and the environment. However, when the brain is injured, it swells and fills with fluid just as other parts of the body would. Swelling can cause your brain to push against the skull, causing immense pressure inside the head that could potentially cause further damage, discomfort, and pain.

The neurons of the brain communicate via special messenger molecules called neurotransmitters. These chemicals are in proper balance in order to control mood, sleep, desire, and sense of happiness. A TBI will often disturb this delicate chemistry, resulting in altered emotions and thoughts. Consequently, behavior is often disturbed in those with TBIs.The brain’s chemical balance will often restore itself upon healing. When the injury is very severe, sometimes medications are warranted to intervene in brain’s chemical makeup.

“I am not sure if I have a TBI. What should I do?!”

Professional medical attention is crucial if you are suspicious that you may have a brain injury. Through comprehensive evaluations and sophisticated brain imaging, you can work together with your doctor to heal and prevent further injury.

Check out Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN discuss TBIs:

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

If you are reading this article, then you have most likely heard of a neuropsychologist. Maybe you have even been to one. But do you know the vast scope of what a neuropsychologist can do for you? As per the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, “clinical neuropsychology is a specialty field within clinical psychology, dedicated to understanding the relationships between brain and behavior, particularly as these relationships can be applied to the diagnosis of brain disorder, assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning, and the design of effective treatment” (AACN). A neuropsychologist is a clinical PhD psychologist, who has obtained an additional board certification in the specialty of neuropsychology, and has completed expansive post-doctoral clinical training hours across various populations.

How do you know if you need to improve upon your cognitive and behavioral skills? You may not even realize they are impacted for one. One of the signs of cognitive dysfunction is having limited to no self-awareness and insight into your deficits. This is caused by decreased executive functioning. Executive functioning and self regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. And that is just the beginning of the explanation.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, you may be referred to a neuropsychologist. If you are not referred, you may have found one on your own. Why is this a good idea? Because even if you suffer a mild brain injury, you may find yourself with difficulty focusing, or trouble regulating your emotions. Neuropsychologists can help evaluate and treat those executive functions that might be impaired and impact your return to work, hobbies, and everyday activities.

Even if a person’s brain injury was months or years ago, and was a mild concussion, deficits may still be present. A person may have more trouble concentrating on paying their bills. Maybe you know a student who’s grades are slipping after a soccer injury. Or, you may notice a personality change in your loved one, and it has made your relationship strained. All of those scenarios may lead you to seek help, and neuropsychologists are available to provide that help with any of those hardships.

Pathways Neuropsychology Associates provides clients with access to neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, and most importantly, access to help, and a listening ear. Contact us today at 732-930-2242.

The following link is a post to a discussion regarding neuropsychology testing following tbi from brainline.org, an online community made by people who have suffered brain injuries, for patients and their loved ones. >learn more

by Kristen Schreier M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.