Traumatic Brain Injury Los Angeles

Traumatic Brain Injury

Any injury to the head may cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are two major types of TBI:

Penetrating Injuries

In these injuries, a foreign object (e.g., a bullet) enters brain and causes damage to specific brain parts. 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 Injuries

Closed head injuries result from a blow to the head as occurs, for example, in a car accident when the head strikes the windshield or dashboard. These injuries cause two types of brain damage:

• Following a traumatic brain injury an individual may experience cognitive difficulties.
• What cognitive problems occur after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
  • Trouble concentrating when there are distractions (e.g., carrying on a conversation in a noisy restaurant or working on a few tasks at once).
  • Slower processing or “taking in” of new information. Longer messages may have to be “chunked,” or broken down into smaller pieces. The person may have to repeat/rehearse messages to make sure he or she has processed the crucial information. Communication partners may have to slow down their rate of speech.