Philadelphia Brain Injury Lawyer Talks About Brain Injury Litigation

What are the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury? Individuals with brain injury often experience problems with both vision and hearing loss. Carolyn Rocchio of the Brain Injury Association says the following about traumatic brain injury:

“Hearing problems can occur for a number of reasons, both mechanical and neurologic, particularly when the inner ear and/or temporal lobes have been damaged. All patients should have an otoscopic examination and hearing screening followed by behavioral testing. External bleeding in the ear canal, middle ear damage, cochlear injury, and/or temporal lobe lesions can cause auditory dysfunction.” (Rocchio, 1998)

According to the Brain Injury Association website, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as:
“An insult to the brain, not of degenerative or congenital nature caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. Acquired brain injury (ABI) is defined as “Injury to the brain which is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative that has occurred after birth.”

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 5.3 million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living because of traumatic brain injury.

An estimated 40% of those hospitalized with a TBI have at least one unmet need for services one year after their injury. Most frequently:

* Improving memory and problem solving;

* Managing stress and emotional upsets;

* Controlling one's temper; and

* Improving one's job skills.

TBI can cause a wide range of changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, and/or emotions. It can cause epilepsy and increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders.

Tags: brain injury association, centers for disease control, centers for disease control and prevention, disease control and prevention, hearing problems, term consequences, traumatic brain injury