Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury to the head arising from blunt or penetrating trauma or from acceleration-deceleration forces. This injury is associated with any of the following symptoms or signs: decreased level of consciousness, amnesia, other neurologic or neuropsychologic abnormalities, skull fracture, diagnosed intracranial lesions, or death.¹

An estimated 5.3 million Americans in this country live with a disability that was caused by a TBI.

Using national data from 1995-1996, it is estimated that:

• 1 million people are treated and released from hospital emergency departments.
• 230,000 people are hospitalized and survive.
• 50,000 people die as a result of a TBI.
• Each year 80,000 Americans experience the onset of long-term disability following TBI.
• The leading causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes, violence, and falls.
• The leading causes of TBI vary by age: falls are the leading cause of TBI among persons 65 years and older, whereas transportation leads among persons aged 5 to 64 years.²
• The risk of TBI is especially high among adolescents, young adults and people older than 75 years of age.
• The outcome of these injuries varies greatly depending on the cause: 91% of firearm-related TBI’s resulted in death, while 11% of all-related TBI’s proved fatal.²

Motor Deficits - Paralysis, poor balance, lower endurance, reduction in the ability to plan motor movements and poor coordination.

Perceptual Deficits - Possible changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell and touch, loss of sensation of body parts, left or right side of body neglect. The individual may have difficulty understanding where limbs are in relation to body.

Speech Deficits – Speech that is not clear as a result of poor control of the speech muscles (lips, tongue, teeth, etc.) and poor breathing patterns.

Language Deficits – Difficulty expressing thoughts and understanding others. This may include problems identifying objects, reading, writing, and ability to work with numbers. It is important to note that although pronunciation may be normal, what is being said may be inappropriate. A speech therapist may be necessary to work the language problems.

Cognitive Deficits – Loss of sense of time and space, identity of self and others. Shortened attention span, short-term memory problems, problem solving or judgment deficits, inability to understand abstract concepts. There may also be an inability to accept more than one or two oral commands simultaneously.

Denial – Inability to recognize or accept current deficits, limitations and situations. The patient may react to the denial by objecting to relearning tasks he/she remembers having learned before.

Social Difficulties – Impaired social capacity resulting in self-centered behavior in which both empathy and self-critical attitudes are greatly diminished.

Regulatory Disturbances – Fatigue and/or changes in sleep patterns. Also loss of bowel and bladder control.

Personality Changes – Apathy and decreased motivation. Emotional liability, irritability, depression. Disinhibition which may result in lowered frustration tolerance, and inappropriate sexual behavior.

Traumatic Epilepsy may result in the onset of seizures. Two types may occur:

1. Focal motor seizure – This is the most common type of seizure and the patient may have twitching or jerking movements.
2. Major motor or generalized seizure – rapid body movements, loss of consciousness, loss of bowel and bladder control, and irregular breathing.

It is usually difficult to predict the outcome of a traumatic brain injury the first hours, days or weeks. In fact, the outcome may remain unknown for many months or years.

Rehabilitation of the individual with a brain injury begins immediately. The initial life-saving treatment may be provided by a neurosurgeon or neurologist. As the patient improves, a team of specialists will be used to evaluate and treat the problems of the head-injured person. This team may include experts in medicine, psychiatry, nursing, neuropsychology, social work, nutrition, special education, occupation, physical, speech and language therapies, cognitive retraining, pastoral support, activity therapy, and vocational rehabilitation. Families are vital to provide information on a patient’s social history and should always be included in the rehabilitation and treatment to the greatest extent possible.

There are a variety of treatment programs along the continuum of care, including: acute rehabilitation, long-term rehabilitation, coma, treatment centers, late rehabilitation, extended intensive rehabilitation, transitional living programs, behavior management programs, life-long residential day treatment programs, independent living programs, and Traumatic Brain Injury Programs within community colleges.³

Confronting Traumatic Brain Injury by William Wimsade

Endless Journey: A Head-trauma Victim’s Remarkable Rehabilitation by Dr. Janet A. Stumbo, AEP Foundation, Inc., Santa Ana, CA 1998

Over My Head: A Doctor’s Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out by Claudia L. Osburn, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, 1998

Thumbs Up: The Life and Courageous Comeback of White House Press Secretary Jim Brady by Mollie Dickenson, William Morrow and Company, Inc., New York, N.Y. 1987

Where is the Mango Princess by Cathy E. Cummins, Alfred A. Knopf, 2000

105 North Alfred Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(713) 2366000

(800) 444-6443 (Family Helpline)

The Brain Injury Association (BIA) is a national advocacy and awareness organizational which develops and distributes educational information on resources, legal rights and services. BIA is a centralized clearinghouse for information of all kinds regarding brain injury and provide referrals for state associations across the United States.

(714) 621-3300

Services Provided: Peer and Professional Counseling, Information and Referral, Advocacy and Mediation; additional services available.

P.O. Box 84601

San Diego, CA 92138

(619) 268-4432 (Helpline)

(619) 294-6541

251 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite 440

Fullerton, CA 92835

(714) 449-4848

(866) 785-8332

The St. Jude Brain Injury Network is a private, non-profit program providing long term planning and support services to those individuals who have experienced an external force traumatic brain injury.

1815 Sunny Crest Drive

Fullerton, CA 92835

(714) 446-7100

St. Jude Continuing Rehabilitation Center is a day treatment program for persons whose productive life has been interrupted secondary to a brain injury or stroke. Treatment is a combination of individualized and group therapy sessions provided both in the facility and in the community.

Orange Caregiver Resource Center

251 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite 460

(714) 578-8670

(800) 543-8312

Part of the Statewide system of resource centers serving families and caregivers of brain impaired adults. Support and assistance for family caregivers of brain-impaired adults. Free in-home consultation. Other services include legal clinics, support groups, training events and a library of resource materials.

Coastline Community College Acquired Brain Injury Program

2990 Mesa Verde Dr. East

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 751-9776

(714) 241-6214

The program includes five sequential modules designed to help students redevelop thinking and learning skills, maximize their abilities and regain their independence. Classroom instruction is enhanced by neurophysicological assessment, counseling and vocational training and placement.

1933 Sunny Crest Dr.

Fullerton, CA 92835

(714 526-7766

Clubhouse model program for cognitive disabilities. Various activities in food service, janitorial, merchandising. Vocational component. Works in helping client with job placement. Very flexible program. Clients generally need self-motivation.

130 Laguna Road

Fullerton, CA 92835

(714) 680-6060

Adult Day Health Program, Medical Model, specializing in the needs of brain injured adults. Adult Day Care for Seniors with Alzheimer’s/Dementia.

2953 Edinger Avenue

Tustin, CA 92780

(949) 733-0044

Cognitive retraining; leisure skills; vocational rehabilitation; Social skills development. Generally fulltime program but will take people for several days a week, has some scholarships available.

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources on this Fact Sheet were current at the time of update, October 16, 2002. If you find new information or resources, please contact St. Jude Brain Injury Network. Thank you.

For more information, please contact:

St. Jude Brain Injury Network
251 E. Imperial Hwy., Fullerton, CA 92835
714-449-4848 or Toll Free 1-866-785-8332  Fax 714-447-0987

E-mail: bin_tbi@yahoo.com