Below is an overview of the difficulties associated with a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury has been long known as the "Silent Epidemic" for it is widespread, yet largely unrecognized and misunderstood. Unlike a physical disability, a brain injury is cognitively based making it less apparent. Everyone recovers at a different rate and people will plateau. TBI is looked as an active recovery that will occur over a lifetime.

Blasts are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury for active duty military service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by a external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness. A rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head can force the brain to move back and forth against the skull, which can pull apart nerve fibers and damage brain tissue. A TBI may affect one physically, cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. A TBI can change the way we think, act and feel in a matter of seconds.

TBI vs. PTSD: A traumatic brain injury is a physical injury that has immediate symptom presentation. There is active recovery and generally will improve with time. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is an emotional reaction to a traumatic event. The symptoms may have a delayed presentation and may require long term assistance. They are often confused or co-exist.

Identification and diagnosis TBI. The best way to determine if there has been a Brain Injury is medical documentation through an CT and/or MRI and Neuropsychological Evaluations. You may also recognize a sudden change or inconsistent performance and difficulty with retention of new information.

The Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury. The effects will vary from person to person. No two brain injuries are the same as no two individuals are.

• Physical changes can interfere with sleep, blurred/double vision or eyes tire easily, headaches, ringing in ears, light headed, dizzy, balance, speech, and muscle weakness
• Cognitive changes can lead to memory problems, loss of judgment, concentration and problem solving skills. These can also affect how a person follows directions, plans and organizes, and communicates. Cognitive deficts may cause a person to become easily confused and overwhelmed, have slowed thinking, moving, speaking, reading.
• Emotional and Behavioral changes are the most difficult. They can lead to an increase in irritability, frustration, impaired judgment, impulsive behavior, low self-esteem, mood swings, an inability to control feelings and increased anger. They exhibit feeling sad, anxious, and listless.