A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a person has had a head injury or a concussion and felt dazed, confused, had “their bell rung”, or been knocked unconscious. The force may cause the brain to jolt backward and forward, hitting the skull and causing damage to the internal lining, tissues and blood vessels of the brain. This damage can result in internal bleeding, bruising or swelling of the brain.
TBI is a complicated injury which can range from mild to severe. It can affect your thinking, memory, personality and emotions. It is an “Invisible Wound of War.” It is a physical injury to the brain caused by a sudden force. . . TBI can range from mild to severe, depending on the cause of the injury. Most people who experience a mild TBI can recover completely with rest. Others who experience a severe TBI or multiple concussions will need medical treatment. Any brain injury, whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe, can:
- Cause headache, dizziness, and fatigue
- Temporarily or permanently weaken your physical abilities, including motor function and balance
- Impair your ability to think, concentrate, and reason clearly
- Affect your memory
- Affect your sleep
- Affect your senses, including touch, taste and smell
- Interfere with your emotions and behavior
- Impede language and communication abilities
Treatment Works. There are effective treatments for PTSD and mTBI. Research shows that a number of treatments are effective in helping Veterans overcome Post Traumatic Stress including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE); Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Pharmacotherapy.
Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) therapy as a treatment tool for Veterans at the Home Base Program receiving Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, a well-established evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD. Home Base is at the cutting edge of integrating VRE therapy directly into clinical care options for veterans diagnosed with PTSD
Effective treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury includes Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.
Watch this news story below from WGBH which features the story of one Iraq Veteran Bob Davis and our Home Base TBI specialist Dr. Ross Zafonte