Brain injury can be in many forms. In this article, we’ve discussed acquired brain injury, its causes and effects, and other necessary details to care for it.
What is Acquired Brain Injury?
In simple terms, acquired brain injury is any damage to your brain after birth. It may include any infection, diseases, surgery, trauma etc., that are not hereditary. In other words, it occurs because of an unexpected occurrence or a medical condition.
Acquired brain damage can have severe, permanently changing effects. The brain controls every aspect of human life—physical, mental, emotional, and social. A person’s life might get affected if their brain is injured.
As mentioned earlier, a person who has an ABI may experience a wide range of issues ranging from a mental condition or an intellectual disability.
How Many Forms of Acquired Brain Injury?
There are two categories of acquired brain injury exists as follows:
Traumatic brain injury:
A bump, blow, or jolt to the head, as well as a severe head injury, are examples of external forces that can disturb the brain’s normal function and result in traumatic brain injury.
Non-traumatic brain injury:
Instead of being brought on by an external force, this kind of injury happens internally.
What is the Impact of ABI on a Person?
It is challenging to foresee how a brain injury would develop over time. It can be moderate to profound and will vary depending on the individual.
Many persons with ABI frequently experience greater physical and mental exhaustion, and some decelerate their ability to process information, make plans, and solve issues. Again, changes in their physical and sensory capabilities, thinking and learning processes, behaviour, and personality are possible.
How to Identify ABI?
Brain scans are performed on people with ABIs. Other procedures might also be carried out, depending on the reason for the ABI. It will be necessary to test someone’s memory, intellect, and ability to manage daily chores. These tests look at the issues they face and the required level of assistance & treatment.
Is ABI Similar to Intellectual Disability?
Although intellectual disability and ABI share certain similarities, they are different. ABI is recognized by your healthcare and welfare system as a distinct impairment. ABI patients typically retain their intellectual ability but struggle with certain types of thinking.
The alterations following an ABI reflect a loss because they have a typical development and functioning span. Persons with ABI can recover significantly, and many of their issues improve over time. Again, the methods of treatment and services are frequently different between ABI and intellectual disability due to these variances.
What are the Common Symptoms of ABI?
In an acquired brain injury (ABI), trauma types, damage severity, the area of the brain, and the specifics of your brain all play a vital role. No two diseases are similar, and many symptoms and indicators match.
The following are examples of general ABI indications and symptoms:
- Damage to the brain’s frontal lobe can impair your ability to plan, organize, and reason through situations. These are just a few examples of an ABI’s general indications and signs. A brain injury may impact your perception and behaviour.
- Your vision may be impacted by damage to the back of your brain.
- Damage to the right side of the brain inhibits awareness, the capacity to put things together, and attention.
- Damage to the left side of the brain impacts language for most people.
- Memory and processing speed are only two of the many areas that diffuse injuries frequently affect.
What is the Treatment of ABI?
The cause of the ABI will have some bearing on the course of treatment. For instance, stroke victims need care tailored to their needs.
Nevertheless, treatment may also be necessary for those with an ABI, depending on the condition’s complications. Rehabilitation certainly will be necessary, emphasizing the areas where they struggle.
Recovery requires time. Even though the initial months following an injury typically see the greatest improvements, rehabilitation can last for years. Some people must learn how to deal more permanently with a few of the impacts of an ABI.
What Helps After the Recovery from ABI?
Several variables, including the damage and your health, might affect how well you recover from an acquired brain injury (ABI).
Following an ABI, some suggestions to enhance mental health and recovery include:
- One of the finest things for brain health and healing is staying active. You can stay active by walking, working with therapists, or exercising.
- If your doctor suggests it, consult with a speech-language pathologist, professional and physical therapist, rehabilitation services, and counsellor.
- Create and adhere to a schedule. Your organization will improve, you’ll be more likely to practice healthy habits routinely, and you’ll be able to pace yourself to this regularity.
How to Care for a Person with ABI?
Here are some tips to assist you in providing better at-home therapy for your beloved one who has a traumatic brain injury:
Understand Brain Injury
To help a patient, a doctor needs to identify the problem. Otherwise, he can’t help the patient. In the same way, if you want to nurture an ABI patient, you need to understand the issue deeply, what the person is going through and what actions can be helpful.
Give them liberty
Neuroplasticity is one of the primary mechanisms by which the brain heals itself after damage. The patient must perform repetitive tasks to activate it. If you regularly take care of things for them, their brain won’t get the stimulation it needs. They won’t be able to engage in neuroplasticity, which could delay their recovery. So, give them space.
Favour Rehabilitation Exercises
Encourage and push them to exercise as much as possible.
Give emotional support
Most often, emotional issues result from a situation the person cannot handle. So, if your beloved one suddenly becomes angry or irrational, remain patient and give support.
Recognize the Invisible Impact of Brain Injury
Learning about the different cognitive secondary impacts of brain damage will make you more patient, which will help you care for your loved one who has suffered a brain injury better.
Put an end to the communication barrier
Do not shout if your victim has difficulties hearing you. They have no trouble hearing you; they merely struggle to digest words as rapidly as they once did. Repeating what you regularly say will make both sides feel valued. Ask a speech therapist for advice on interacting with someone with aphasia.
Record their improvements
Note each progress they make, no matter how minor. It will give you and your loved one hope and inspiration.
Final Words:
When someone experiences a traumatic brain injury, it is frequently up to their family members to assume caring responsibilities. The caregiver and the patient may find it difficult to adjust at first, but if you address the situation correctly, it can turn out well. Hope the writing helps you understand the condition and the factors to get help from.
