Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Brain Injury Canada

A brain injury refers to any damage to the brain that occurs after birth and is not related to a congenital or a degenerative disease [1]. There are two types of acquired brain injury: non-traumatic brain injury and traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by something that comes from outside the body. This includes blows, bumps, and jolts to the head. Traumatic brain injuries can result in temporary injury or more serious, long-term damage. Causes of traumatic brain injuries include:

Assault
Explosive blasts, combat injuries
Falls
Gunshot wounds
Intimate partner violence (assault, strangulation, suffocation)
Motor vehicle accidents
Shaken baby syndrome
Sports injuries

Is a concussion a brain injury?

A concussion is an acquired brain injury. Anyone who sustains a concussion can experience many of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural effects that accompany acquired brain injuries.

Concussion is also known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that has no neuroimaging findings. The term mild does not diminish the impacts that concussion can have on your health and activities of daily living (ADLs).

→ Information on concussion

Brain injuries can affect every part of a person’s life. This can include changes to your independence, abilities, work, and relationships. Each brain injury is different, so in many cases it’s hard to know what long-term impacts will be.

Some of the most common effects of brain injury can be put in the following categories [2]:

Behavioural changes

The way a person acts or makes decisions can change after a brain injury. Behavioural changes can include engaging in risky or impulsive behaviour, having difficulty with relationships, and isolation. This can be stressful and depending on the behaviour, can cause safety concerns.

→ Information on coping with behavioural changes after a brain injury

Cognitive changes

This is how the brain learns, processes information, forms memories and makes decisions. Cognitive challenges after a brain injury can include communication, concentration, reading/writing, making decisions, and remembering things.

→ Information on coping with cognitive changes

Emotional changes

After a brain injury, a person may experience new or different emotions, including depression, anxiety, and/or anger. Emotional changes can be hard to cope with, and it’s important to have a support system of family, friends, and medical professionals to help.

→ Information on coping with emotional changes after brain injury

Physical changes

In some cases, a brain injury will have physical effects. These effects can include mobility challenges, headaches, fatigue, pain and sensory changes.

→ Information on coping with physical/mobility changes after a brain injury

The challenges of prognosis

Prognosis means the likely path a disease or injury will take. For brain injury, prognosis is meant to give a best estimate of effects and recovery. Brain injuries are all different, and there are a lot of factors that will impact a prognosis of recovery, including:

Severity of injury
Previous injuries and existing conditions
Access to treatment
Age
Location of injury

Research shows that there is no system or set of variables that can accurately predict the outcome for a single patient [2]. There is no surefire timeline for recovery—it’s different for everyone. Doctors will update their prognosis throughout recovery as they have more information.