National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Everyone is at risk for a TBI, but especially children and older adults.

The most common form of head injury is called mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, which can occur from sports injuries, car accidents and other trauma to the skull. Concussions frequently occur from falls in the older population and are often overlooked. The injury doesn’t necessarily correlate with how hard the blow to the head was and in many cases, does not result in a loss of consciousness.

The most common symptoms of a concussion include:

• Headache
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Blurry vision/ double vision
• Difficulty getting to or staying asleep
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, balance issues
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering new information 

Those who suffer from TBIs may require care from a number of physicians or specialists, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). SLPs work to address deficiencies in language, swallowing and speech. Those with a TBI may have difficulty expressing what they would like to say, organizing their thoughts, speaking fluently and have memory lapses.  After conducting a series of evaluations a SLP will set goals, create a customized therapy plan, and schedule follow-up appointments for each individual client. 

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact the Speech-Language Institute at 215.780.3150.