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Traumatic Brain Injury Research Paper

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability among children, adolescents, and adults (Trudel, Scherer, & Elias, 2009, p.41). There are close to 1.4 million individuals a year who are treated with a TBI. Out of this 50,000 of them die. That is 1 out of every 28 people treated for a TBI dies every year. Another 6 out of 28 people are admitted into medical facilities for longer-term care. These number do not take in account the number of people each year with TBI’s who go untreated. However, TBI’s had received little to no support publicly or policy wise until recent years. This increase in attention was due to the increase in TBI’s among military personnel returning home from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. …show more content…

TBI is a term that represent a subgroup of brain injuries that are minor compared to the larger group of brain disease. Yet, despite the many types of brain injuries, they all have some similar effects on an individual’s life that include: the inability to succeed academically and socially, family and work roles, and normal physical activities. Symptoms related to traumatic brain injury fall into three board areas-physical, cognitive, and psychosocial or behavioral challenges (Trudel et al., 2009, pg. …show more content…

104). Not a TBI itself, PTSD is an accumulation of symptoms that occur as a result of the damage sustained by blasts; in which damage is primarily due to pressure changes resulting from explosions. Increased pressure on the brain can damage areas and functions of the brain. These blast usually cause concussions that go undiagnosed and after repeated blasts more damaging injuries occur. The definition of a concussion is injury to the brain causes by a blow to the head, typically resulting in headache, memory loss, general confusion (Bast 2010, pg. 2). Individuals who suffer from concussion are healed within a week time. However, concussions suffered on the battlefield last longer and maybe due to the high-stress environment of combat. Also, physical damage such as the loss of a body part or physical distraction to the body can lead to PTSD in military personnel. Although these TBI does not necessarily cause PTSD, but it puts the brain in a biochemical and metabolic state that enhances the chances of acquiring post-traumatic stress disorder, says UCLA’s Hovda, who served on a civilian task force studying the problem for the

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