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Acquired / Traumatic Brain Injury

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is damage to the brain that results by events caused after birth rather than by genetic or congenital disorders. Unlike a stroke, where the injury is localized, thus affecting only one particular part of the brain, an acquired brain injury causes massive and diffused brain damage. Thus, it is more difficult to determine the outcome and more individualized, interdisciplinary treatment is required.

People with acquired brain injury still retain their intellectual abilities although they may have more dificulty controlling, coordinating, and communicating their thoughts and actions.
BI Resource Handout English
BI Resource Handout Spanish

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. The symptoms of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to a severe injury that may lead to death, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Traumatic Brain Injuries result when the head hits an object (closed brain injury) or when an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue (penetrating brain injury). Medical attention is needed immediately to stabilize and prevent further injury; little can be done to reverse the initial damage.

Physical Consequences
Brain injury can result in a wide variety of physical, mental and personality changes, and the extent of the recovery is different for each person.

Headache
Confusion
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Blurred vision or tired eyes
Ringing in the ears
Fatigue or lethargy
Change in sleep patterns
Behavior / Mood changes
Trouble with memory / attention
Speech problems
Difficulty walking / coordination
Slurred Speech

Even a mild injury can result in a serious disability that will interfere with a person's daily functioning and personal activities for the rest of his/her life. Major life adjustments have to be made to gradually recover and rehabilitate. Outcomes depend greatly on the seriousness of the injury. At Accord Services we pride ourselves on providing a safe environment to our clients. We monitor our brain-injured clients at all times, even when they appear to be behaving normally.