Who We Help

Many people today have heard the term “concussion”, but not as many people realize that a concussion is an Acquired Brain Injury, and should be taken seriously.

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An Acquired Brain Injury is any injury sustained by a person’s brain that is not related to a congenital or degenerative disease. They are classified in two ways: Traumatic and Non-Traumatic. Both types can be further classified on a scale from Severe, to Moderate, to Mild. Severity is determined by the immediate and lasting effects that a person experiences after an injury.

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Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused by an external force to the head. While these can happen in many different ways, some examples include:

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• Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Falls

• Sports and Recreation

• Assaults

• Self Harm

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Non-Traumatic Brain Injuries are typically internal, caused by illness, disease, or by a substance introduced into the body. Some examples include:

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• Stroke

• Brain Tumour

• Hypoxia/anoxia (lack of, or no oxygen to the brain)

• Drug overdose

• Aneurysm

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While no injury is the same, there are similar symptoms and changes present in the population of Acquired Brain Injury survivors. These changes can be one, or any of the categories below:

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• Behavioural; how a person feels or acts

• Cognitive; how a person receives, processes, remembers, or retrieves information

• Emotional; affecting a person’s mood and mental health

• Physical; impacting the way a person’s body operates and functions

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The effects that an Acquired Brain Injury survivor experiences can be life-altering and very challenging to manage. A Rehabilitation Therapist is specifically trained in Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and will work with each individual to formulate strategies, goals and plans to help improve a person’s quality of life.

 

Please visit https://braininjurycanada.ca/en/statistics/ for more information.