What is a TBI? Traumatic Injury to Brain Causes

A brain injury is any injury to the brain that affects a person physically, emotionally or behaviorally. Brain injuries can happen at birth or may arise later from trauma or an illness. Depending on the cause, a brain injury is called either traumatic or non-traumatic.

Traumatic Brain Injury Causes

Traumatic brain injuries do not always include an open head wound or skull fracture. Loss of consciousness may not occur either. These are the most common causes for a traumatic brain injury (TBI): 

  • Motor vehicle accidents 
  • Falls 
  • Violence or gunshot wound 
  • Military attack or bomb blast

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury Causes

A non-traumatic brain injury may also be called an acquired brain injury or ABI. This type of brain injury is the result of an illness or condition within the body, and it is not a result of a blow to the head. These are the most common causes of a non-traumatic brain injury:

  • Stroke (leading cause)
  • Lack of oxygen (hypoxia)
  • Tumors
  • Other illness such as cancer
  • Brain infections or inflammation
  • Other infections

Symptoms of a Brain Injury

Signs of brain trauma can vary. You may experience physical symptoms or functional and emotional changes if a traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury has occurred. Typically, brain injury causes:

  • Headache
  • Difficulty coordinating balance
  • Vision problems
  • Seizures
  • Changes in sensory perception
  • Trouble speaking and swallowing
  • Personality changes
  • Difficulty forming sentences or choosing vocabulary
  • Confusion
  • Trouble communicating
  • Difficulty with reason, focus and logic
  • Memory impairments

If you are experiencing any of these signs of brain trauma, contact your doctor immediately.


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