March 4th was Brain Injury Awareness Day. We’ve all hit our heads at some point, most likely as children. Most of the time, we’re able to recover pretty easily, but some head injuries can lead to traumatic brain injuries. TBIs are common; in 2023 there were 1,854 TBI-related deaths in Michigan. In 2022, Michigan saw 9,137 hospitalizations related to TBIs. There was an average of 190 deaths per day in the United States from TBI-related injuries in 2021. Today’s blog post will focus on what traumatic brain injuries are, the symptoms and causes, and where to find assistance.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define traumatic brain injury as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.”
TBI Symptoms (note: mild to moderate TBIs have different symptoms than more severe TBIs).
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Tiredness
- Issues with speaking
- Dizziness and/or loss of balance
- Blurred vision
- Ears ringing
- Passing out/loss of consciousness
- Mood swings
- Feeling depressed
- Seizures
- Pupil dilation
- Confusion
- Vertigo
Common Causes
- Falling (this is the most common cause in older adults)
- Car accidents
- Violence (including domestic violence and elder abuse)
- Combat injuries
Resources
- Brain Injury Association of Michigan (810) 229-5880
- Family Helpline: 800-444-6443
- Brainline.org (covers getting diagnosed, managing and treating symptoms, and dealing with the social and emotional impacts of TBIs)
- Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston (734) 971-0277
- Michigan Ability Partners (734) 975-6880
- Michigan Brain Injury Services (BIS) (517) 241-1685 OR (517) 241-1680
- Michigan Medicine Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (734) 936-7175
- Michigan Resource Guide for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families (last updated 2013)
- Tips for Caregivers via Brainline.org
- Washtenaw County Brain Injury Support Group (meets in Ypsi) (734) 972-1526