Brain Injury
Definition

According to Brain Injury Canada, acquired brain injury is "an injury to the brain, which is not hereditary, congenital, or degenerative. It can be caused by a traumatic blow to the head, severe rotation of the neck or whiplash, or even lack of oxygen." It is estimated that at least 12% of the general population will sustain a brain injury at some point in their life, with the highest incidence affecting adolescents and young adults. ^{1 2}

Some common causes of brain injury include motor vehicle crashes, falls, and sports-related impacts. A moderate to severe brain injury can have serious long-term consequences for the victim, and may require rehabilitation that may include physical, occupational, and/or speech/language therapy, psychology/psychiatry, and social support. ³

A concussion is a type of brain injury, often referred to as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Although concussions are considered to be mild in nature, the consequences of an mTBI can have a significant impact on an individual. Post-concussive symptoms can include the following: ⁴

• Amnesia
• Confusion
• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Balance problems/dizziness
• Double or fuzzy vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Nausea
• Feeling sluggish, foggy, or groggy
• Irritability
• Concentration or memory problems
• Slowed reaction time

While some of these symptoms are most apparent in the acute phase following the injury, Carroll et al. (2004) notes that some post-concussive symptoms can persist for a few weeks or, in some cases, up to a year. Recovery can take even longer for individuals with a history of previous concussions, or for those who sustain another head injury while still in the recovery phase of a previous concussion. ⁵

• 1. Frost, Farrer, Primosch, & Hedges (2013)
• 2. Canadian Institute for Health Information (2006)
• 3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2015)
• 4. Brain Injury Canada (n.d.)
• 5. Graham, Rivara, Ford, & Spicer (2014)