The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that, currently, at least 5.3 million Americans
have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a traumatic brain injury.
According to one study, approximately 40% of those hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury have had at least one unmet need for
services one year following their injury. The most frequent unmet needs include the following:
(1)
Improving memory and problem solving;
(2)
Managing stress and emotional upsets;
(3) Controlling one's temper; and
(4)
Improving one's job skills.
Traumatic brain injury (or, "TBI") can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, and/or
emotions. It can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.
What are the long term consequences of traumatic brain injury?