Home :: Resources :: BIC Featured News :: Roster :: Case Review :: Contact BIC

style: default | contrast

Quick Links

BIC Featured News

 

You can get a free copy of Acrobat® Reader™ for PDF files here:

What is Acquired v. Traumatic Brain Injury?

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that has occurred after birth and is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative. The injury commonly results in a change in neuronal acitivey, which affects the physical integrity, the metabolic activity, or the functional ability of the cell. The term does not refer to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

Causes of Acquired Brain Injury include: Traumatic Brain Injury, Tumors, Blood Clots, Strokes (Cerebral Vascular Accidents) Seizures, toxic Exposure, Infections, Metabolic Disorders (substance abuse, lead poisoning, diabetic coma, liver and kidney disease), Neurotoxic Poisoning (airway obstruction, strangulation, cardiopulmonary arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning and drowing) and Anoxic Injury (lack of oxygen to the brain).

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain, not a degenerative or congenital nature but caused by an external physical force, that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities and/or physical functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment. The definition of Traumatic Brain Injury is included in the broader definition of Acquired Brain Injury.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury include: Motor Vehicle Accidents, Falls, Gunshot Wounds, Sports Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Military Actions and other related trauma injuries.

--Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialist, Brain Injury Association of America, 2007

How many people have TBI?

  • Every 21 seconds, one person in the US sustains a TBI
  • An estimated 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year in the US
    • 1.1 million are treated and released from an Emergency Room (ER)
    • 235,000 are hospitalized
    • 50,000 die


The number of people with TBI who are not seen in an ER or who receive no care is unknown.

What are the leading causes of TBI?

  • Falls (28%)
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents, traffic crashes (20%)
  • Assaults (11%)

What are the long term consequences?
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans currently have long term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living (ADL's) as a result of TBI.

--Source: Brain Injury Association of American (www.biausa.org)

Brain Injury Coalition of Greater Cleveland

The Brain Injury Coalition of Greater Cleveland (BIC) was founded to identify services and service gaps centering on the needs of survivors of brain injury. This group has served as the inter-agency link between the service providers for comprehensive planning and problem-solving.

Our mission is to create and enhance opportunities for survivors of brain injuries and their families, as well as preventing others from joining their ranks.

In September of 1996, the BIC began case reviews to provide advice and guidance in an attempt to empower survivors of traumatic brain injury, and their families, to identify and access comprehensive, quality services.