TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY TBI
Recovery Through Support
What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury TBI is an injury that affects how the brain works. It is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or by a penetrating injury such as one from a gunshot.
It ranges from mild, often called a concussion, to moderate or severe. Even a "mild" TBI is a real injury that can cause temporary or longer‑lasting problems.
How TBIs Happen
Common causes include:
- Falls
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Assaults and violence, including firearms
- Sports and recreational injuries
- Blast injuries, common in military settings
Falls are the leading cause overall, especially in older adults and young children, and account for nearly half of TBI‑related hospitalizations. Motor vehicle crashes include those involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Mechanisms include direct impact, acceleration and deceleration, when the brain moves inside the skull, and blast effects.
Severity
Doctors often use the Glasgow Coma Scale GCS, which scores eye opening, verbal response, and motor response from 3 to 15:
- Mild TBI, or concussion: GCS 13 to 15. Brief or no loss of consciousness; symptoms usually resolve over days to weeks, and most people recover fully.
- Moderate: GCS 9 to 12. A longer loss of consciousness, with more structural damage possible.
- Severe: GCS 3 to 8. Prolonged unconsciousness or coma, with a higher risk of lasting disability or death.
More than 75 to 90 percent of TBIs are mild.
Symptoms
Mild TBI may include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or balance problems, fatigue, confusion, memory or concentration issues, sensitivity to light or sound, mood changes, and sleep problems. Loss of consciousness is not required.
Moderate to severe TBI can include the above plus:
- Loss of consciousness lasting minutes to hours, or longer
- Worsening or persistent headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizures
- Unequal or dilated pupils
- Clear fluid from the nose or ears
- Weakness, numbness, or loss of coordination
- Profound confusion, agitation, or inability to wake up
- Coma or other disorders of consciousness
In infants and young children, look for changes in eating, irritability that cannot be consoled, drowsiness, seizures, or loss of interest in activities.
Symptoms can appear immediately or hours or days later. Seek emergency care for any concerning head injury or red‑flag symptoms.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Diagnosis involves a history of the injury, a neurological exam, GCS scoring, and imaging, usually computed tomography CT first in emergencies to check for bleeding, swelling, or fractures, and magnetic resonance imaging MRI may follow. Neuropsychological testing can assess cognitive function.
A proper diagnosis can only come from a thorough professional evaluation by a qualified clinician.
The right treatment for each person is decided with their clinician.
Treatment depends on severity:
- Mild: Relative rest, a gradual return to activities, over‑the‑counter pain relief for headache, and monitoring. Avoid activities that worsen symptoms.
- Moderate or severe: Emergency stabilization of airway, breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen; monitoring of pressure inside the skull; medications, such as those to prevent seizures; possible surgery to remove blood clots, relieve pressure, or repair the skull; and rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, speech, cognitive, and psychological therapy.
Recovery And Long‑Term Effects
Most people with mild TBI recover within weeks to months. Some experience persistent post‑concussive symptoms. Moderate to severe injuries more often lead to lasting physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or communication problems, with cognitive effects on memory, attention, and executive function. Rehabilitation aims to maximize independence and quality of life.
Repeated or severe TBIs are linked to a higher risk of later issues such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy CTE, epilepsy, and other neurodegenerative conditions, though individual risk varies and research continues.
Scale Of The Problem
In the United States, there were over 69,000 TBI‑related deaths in 2021, about 190 per day. Falls drive most hospitalizations; firearm‑related suicide is the leading cause of TBI deaths. Older adults, males, and certain groups, including service members and veterans, face higher risks. TBIs in children can affect brain development.
Prevention
Many TBIs are preventable:
- Always wear a seat belt, use proper car seats or boosters for children, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Wear a properly fitted helmet for biking, motorcycling, skiing, contact sports, skateboarding, horseback riding, and similar activities.
- Prevent falls, especially in older adults and children: remove tripping hazards, improve lighting, install grab bars and handrails, review medications that cause dizziness, get regular vision checks, and stay physically active for strength and balance.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.
This is general information based on sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, Mayo Clinic, and MedlinePlus. It is not personalized medical advice. If you or someone else has a head injury or concerning symptoms, seek evaluation from a healthcare professional promptly. Emergency care is needed for severe symptoms.
Who Do We Help?
Teenagers and adults living with the after‑effects of a brain injury on memory, attention, mood or sleep.
How Can We Help?
Psychological Testing measures memory, attention and thinking after an injury, and Psychiatry and Medication Management help with the mood, sleep and concentration problems that can follow.
What Are My Options?
If you are wondering if we could be a good fit for you or have questions about how we can craft your own specialized treatment plan, please reach out to learn more.
For individuals with urgent needs we may be able to offer same-day or next-day appointments to ensure that you get the care you need as quickly as possible.
Accessible And Flexible Treatment Options
Conveniently located in West Lake Hills, we provide expert psychiatric care and psychological testing for patients in
Austin, Rollingwood, Tarrytown, Bee Cave, Lakeway and Surrounding Communities in Central Texas.
Our Mission is to Provide the Best Psychiatric Care and Psychological Testing in Austin. Contact Us today, we love to help!
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1. Fill Out Our Request Form
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A member of our Patient Care Team will reach out at your convenience.
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