A Traumatic Brain Injury Health And Social Care Essay

A Traumatic Brain Injury Health And favorable allot EssayThe Brain Injury Association of America defines a traumatic instinct stain as an insult to the foreland, not of degenerative or infixed nature, ca enforced by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning.Any injury to the transmit may cause traumatic mentality injury (TBI). There are devil major references of TBIPenetrating InjuriesIn these injuries, a foreign object (e.g., a bullet) enters the outlook and causes damage to specific brain go aways. This focal, or localized, damage occurs along the route the object has traveled in the brain. Symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain that is damaged.Closed Head InjuriesClosed head injuries result from a stray to the head as occurs, for example, in a car acciden t when the head strikes the windshield or dashboard. These injuries cause two types of brain damagePeople with a brain injury often have cognitive (thinking) and communion problems that significantly impair their competency to live individually. These problems vary depending on how widespread brain damage is and the location of the injury.Brain injury survivors may have bring out finding the words they need to express an idea or explain themselves through articulateing and/or writing. It may be an effort for them to understand both written and spoken messages, as if they were trying to comprehend a foreign phrase. They may have difficulty with spelling, writing, and reading, as healthy.The somebody may have trouble with social communication, includingtaking turns in conversationmaintaining a case of conversationusing an appropriate tone of voiceinterpreting the subtleties of conversation (e.g., the difference between sarcasm and a serious statement)responding to facial expre ssions and body languagekeeping up with others in a fast-paced conversationIndividuals may seem overemotional (overreacting) or flat (without emotional affect). Most frustrating to families and friends, a person may have little to no awareness of just how inappropriate he or she is acting. In general, communication can be genuinely frustrating and unsuccessful.In addition to all of the above, muscles of the lips and tongue may be weaker or less coordinated after TBI. The person may have trouble speaking clearly. The person may not be able to speak loudly enough to be heard in conversation. Muscles may be so weak that the person is unable to speak at all. Weak muscles may also limit the ability to chew and swallow effectively.Treating traumatic brain injuryoccurs when a patient is admitted to the hospital. Doctors work diligently to stabilize his or her condition, which can include unblocking airways, maintaining blood flow to the brain and, in extreme cases, resuscitation. In addi tion, doctors make out open wounds and administer antibiotics to prevent infection. Once a patient has stabilized, his or her doctors may order MRI scans, CT scans, or X-rays to help assess the take aim of brain damage. Doctors may also prescribe anti-convulsion medication to prevent seizures.In some instances, traumatic brain injury can lead to increase intracranial pressure. These cases often require surgery to accommodate brain swelling and excess fluid. Open head injuries may require surgery to remove broken skull fragments and throw in synthetic pieces that protect delicate brain tissue.Traumatic brain injury replacementis an definitive part of treatment because it helps patients regain or manage impaired brain functions and minimizes long-term traumatic brain injury disabilities. Through rehabilitation, patients are some convictions able to regain important brain functions such as speech, reminiscence and mobility. Rehabilitation can also help a victims family cope with the tragedy.Traumatic brain injury has many other causes, complications and treatments. Please read other articles on this site for to a greater extent information on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of traumatic brain injury.The recuperation process is different for everyone. Just as no two people are alike, no two brain injuries are alike. Recovery is typically lengthy-from months to years-because the brain takes a long time to heal. These tips, directed at the person with a brain injury, will help your loved one improve after the injuryGet lots of rest.Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head.Ask the doctor when its safe to drive a car, ride a bike, play sports or use heavy equipment, because reaction time may be slower after a brain injury.Take prescription medication according to thedoctors instructions.Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs.Write things down to help with memory problems.Ask the doctor to recommend rehabilitation services th at might help recovery, and follow those recommendations nutty injuryMild traumatic brain injuries usually require no treatment other than rest and over-the-counter pain relievers to treat a headache. However, a person with a mild traumatic brain injury usually needs to be monitored closely at home for any persistent, worsening or new symptoms. He or she also may have follow-up doctor appointments.The doctor will indicate when a return to work, school or recreational activities is appropriate. Its best to avoid physical or thinking (cognitive) activities until symptoms have stopped. Most people return to normal routines gradually.Immediate emergency dole out indispensableness caution for moderate to dangerous traumatic brain injuries focuses on making sure the person has an adequate oxygen and blood supply, maintaining blood pressure, and preventing any progress injury to the head or neck. People with severe injuries may also have other injuries that need to be addressed.Additio nal treatments in the emergency direction or intensive care unit of a hospital will focus on minimizing secondary damage due to inflammation, bleeding or cut down oxygen supply to the brain.MedicationsMedications to limit secondary damage to the brain immediately after an injury may includeDiuretics.These drugs reduce the amount of fluid in tissues and increase urine output. Diuretics, inclined intravenously to people with traumatic brain injury, help reduce pressure inside the brain.Anti-seizure drugs.People whove had a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury are at risk of having seizures during the first hebdomad after their injury. An anti-seizure drug may be given during the first week to avoid any additional brain damage that might be caused by a seizure. Additional anti-seizure treatments are used only if seizures occur.Coma-inducing drugs.Doctors sometimes use drugs to put people into temporary comas because a comatose brain needs less oxygen to function. This is especi ally helpful if blood vessels, compressed by increased pressure in the brain, are unable to deliver the usual amount of nutrients and oxygen to brain cells. functioningEmergency surgery may be necessitate to minimize additional damage to brain tissues. Surgery may be used to address the following problemsRemoving clotted blood (hematomas).Bleeding outside or within the brain can result in a collection of clotted blood (hematoma) that puts pressure on the brain and damages brain tissue.Repairing skull fractures.Surgery may be needed to repair severe skull fractures or to remove pieces of skull in the brain.Opening a window in the skull.Surgery may be used to relieve pressure inside the skull by draining accumulated cerebral spinal fluid or creating a window in the skull that provides more room for swollen tissues.RehabilitationMost people who have had a significant brain injury will require rehabilitation. They may need to learn basic skills, such as walking or talking. The goal is to improve their abilities to perform daily activities.Therapy usually begins in the hospital and continues at an inpatient rehabilitation unit, a residential treatment facility or through outpatient services. The type and duration of rehabilitation varies by individual, depending on the severity of the brain injury and what part of the brain was injured. Rehabilitation specialists may includePhysiatrist,a doctor trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, who oversees the entire rehabilitation processOccupational healerwho helps the person learn, relearn or improve skills to perform everyday activitiesPhysical therapist,who helps with mobility and relearning movement patterns, balance and walkingSpeech and language pathologist,who helps the person improve communication skills and use assistive communication devices if necessaryNeuropsychologist or psychiatrist,who helps the person manage behaviors or learn coping strategies, provides talk therapy as needed for emotional and psychological well-being, and prescribes medication as neededSocial worker or case manager,who facilitates access to service agencies, assists with care decisions and formulation, and facilitates communication among various professionals, care providers and family membersRehabilitation nurse,who provides on-going rehabilitation care and services and who helps with discharge planning from the hospital or rehabilitation facilityTraumatic brain injury nurse specialist,who helps coordinate care and educates the family more or less the injury and recovery processRecreational therapist,who assists with leisure activitiesVocational counselor,whoassesses the ability to return to work and appropriate vocational opportunities, and provides resources for addressing common challenges in the studyPrognosis (or Chance of Recovery)It is difficult to predict how well someone who has had a brain injury will recover, partly because there is no test a doctor can use to predict recovery. The Glasgo w Coma Scale is used to determine the initial severity of a brain injury. It is often used at the scene of the accident or in the emergency room. This scale uses eye movements and ability to speak and move other parts of the body to determine the distressfulness of the injury. Ask your doctor to explain the tests used to determine your loved ones ability to recover.Your loved ones prognosis will depend on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of injury, and what parts of the brain have been affected. Prompt diagnosis and treatment will help the recovery process.In discussing possible effects of TBI, the immediate physiological recovery (which may continue over months and years) was discussed in aprior question. When the moderately or severely injured person has completed this initial recovery, the long-term serviceable deficits associated with TBI come to the fore. What areas of functioning may be affected by injury to the brain? Any or all of the functions the brain manoeuvers may be furbish uped. However, given that individuals differ greatly in their response to injury, any specific individual may experience only one, a few, or most of the possible effects. Further, a change in any of the possible areas of dysfunction, if it occurs at all, will vary in intensity across individuals from very subtle to moderate to life threatening.It is important to be aware also that not all functions of the individual are impacted by TBI. For example, feelings toward family, long-term memories, the ability to ski or cook, ones knowledge of the world, and so forth all may be intact, along with numerous other characteristics of an individual, even one who has experienced a moderate to severe injury.Individuals with a moderate-to-severe brain injury most typically experience problems in basic cognitive skills sustaining attention, concentrating on tasks at hand, and remembering newly learned material. They may think slowly, speak slowly, and solve problems slowly. They may become confused easily when normal routines are changed or when the stimulation level from the environment exceeds their threshold. They may persevere at tasks in addition long, being unable to switch to a different tactic or a new task when encountering difficulties. Or, on the other hand, they may jump at the first solution they see, substituting impulsive responses for considered actions. They may be unable to go beyond a concrete appreciation of situations, to find abstract principles that are necessary to carry learning into new situations. Their speech and language may be impaired word-finding problems, understanding the language of others, and the like.A major class of cognitive abilities that may be affected by TBI is referred to as executive functions the complex processing of large amounts of intricate information that we need to function creatively, competently and in unfreely as beings in a complex world. Thus, after injury, individuals with T BI may be unable to function well in their social roles because of difficulty in planning ahead, in keeping track of time, in coordinating complex events, in making decisions based on broad input, in adapting to changes in life, and in otherwise being the executive in ones own life.With appropriate training and other dungeons, the person may be able to learn to compensate for some of these cognitive difficulties.TBI may cause emotional, social, or behavioral problems and changes in personality.115116117118These may include emotional instability,depression, anxiety,hypomania,mania, apathy, irritability, problems with social judgment, and impaired conversational skills.115118119TBI appears to predispose survivors to psychiatric disorders includingobsessive autocratic disorder,substance abuse,dysthymia,clinical depression,bipolar disorder, andanxiety disorders.120In patients who have depression after TBI, suicidal ideation is not uncommon the suicide rate among these persons is incr eased 2- to 3-fold.121Social and behavioral symptoms that can follow TBI include disinhibition, inability to control anger, impulsiveness,lack of initiative, inappropriate sexual activity, poor social judgment, and changes in personality. With TBI, the systems in the brain that control our social-emotional lives often are damaged. The consequences for the individual and for his or her significant others may be very difficult, as these changes may imply to them that the person who once was is no longstanding there. Thus, personality can be substantially or subtly modified following injury. The person who was once an optimist may now be depressed. The previously kid-glove and socially skilled negotiator may now be blurting comments that embarrass those around him/her. The person may also be characterized by a renewing of other behaviors dependent behaviors, emotional swings, lack of motivation, irritability, aggression, lethargy, being very uninhibited, and/or being unable to modify behavior to fit varying situations.A very important change that affects many people with TBI is referred to as denial (or, lack of awareness) The person becomes unable to compare post-injury behavior and abilities with pre-injury behavior and abilities. For these individuals, the effects of TBI are, for whatever reason, only when not perceived whether for emotional reasons, as a means of avoiding the pain of fully facing the consequences of injury, or for neurological reasons, in which brain damage itself limits the individuals ability to step back, compare, evaluate differences, and reach a conclusion based on that process.With appropriate training, therapy, and other supports, the person may be able to reduce the impact of some of these emotional and behavioral difficulties.The TBI Research Center at Mount Sinai is conducting research to help people with TBI who experience depression and other mood disturbances multipurpose Resources Services for Families Affected by TBINation al Disability Rights Network Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with DisabilitiesProtection and Advocacy (PA) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP)This across the country network of congressionally mandated disability rights agencies provides various services to people with disabilities, including TBI. PA agencies provide information and referral services and help people with disabilities find solutions to problems involving discrimination and employment, education, health care and transportation, personal decision-making, and Social Security disability benefits. These agencies also provide individual and family advocacy. CAP agencies help clients seeking vocational rehabilitation. For more information on PA and CAP programs, get through the National Disability Rights Network atwww.napas.orgor (202) 408-9514.Traumatic Brain Injury Model SystemsFunded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the TBI Model Systems consist of 16 TBI treatmen t centers throughout the U.S. The TBI Model Systems have extensive experience treating people with TBI and are linked to well established medical centers which provide high quality trauma care from the onset of head injury through the rehabilitation process.For more information on the TBI Model Systems, go towww.tbindsc.org/Centers/centers.aspor call the TBI Project Coordinator at (973) 414-4723 to find the center nearest you.Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) Chartered assert AffiliatesBIAA is a national program with a network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates, as well as hundreds of local chapters providing information, education and support to individuals, families and professionals affected by brain injury.To locate your states TBI programs that can be of assistance, visit the Brain Injury Association of Americas online listing of chartered state affiliates atwww.biausa.org/stateoffices.htm, or call (800) 444-6443.Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Su pplemental Security Income (SSI)It is possible that your loved one may be entitled to SSDI and/or SSI. SSDI and SSI eligibility is dependent on a number of factors including the severity of the disability and what assets and income your loved one has. You should contact the Social Security Administration to find out more about these programs and whether your loved one will qualify for these benefits. For more information on SSDI and SSI, contact the Social Security Administration atwww.ssa.govor (800) 772-1213.Centers for Independent financial backing (CIL)Some families have found that it is important to encourage their loved one with a TBI to continually learn skills that can allow them to live independently in the community.The CILs exist nationwide to help people with disabilities live independently in the community and may have resources to help your loved one reach a goal of living alone. CIL services include advocacy, peer counseling, case management, personal assistance and counseling, information and referral, and independent living skills development. For more information on the CIL system, contact the National Council on Independent Living atwww.virtualcil.net/cilsor (703) 525-3406.