Traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury refers to an acquired injury to the brain as a result of an external physical force (i.e. blow to the head) or the head being forced to move rapidly forward or backward (i.e. whiplash) and usually involves some loss of consciousness. Traumatic brain injury essentially involves damage to brain tissue. This can be in the form of bleeding (bruising), tearing or swelling.

Traumatic brain injury can be the result of either open or closed injury, that is, the skull and membrane lining of the brain have or have not been fractured respectively. Closed injury is the most common cause of traumatic brain injury and it is more likely that the brain injury occurs with little or no visible injury to the head. Typical examples include motor vehicle accidents, assaults, falls and sporting injuries.

Symptoms and characteristics

Symptoms vary considerably depending on where the damage has occurred as well as the severity of the damage, however the more general effects relevant to the workplace include:

• difficulty learning new things
• difficulty understanding things
• lack of motivation
• less organised
• memory/concentration problems
• more easily fatigued
• poor social skills
• prone to stress
• trouble solving problems and lack of insight
• weakness or paralysis of muscles
• coordination problems.

Statistics

Around 1 in 50 Australians have some form of acquired brain injury, with traumatic brain injury being the most common. This estimate is likely to be conservative since prevalence is usually calculated using self-reported data and not all cases are diagnosed or acknowledged. (Brain Injury Association of Queensland 2006).

Workplace solutions and adjustments

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• attention and memory
• dealing with stress and psychological demands
• displaying appropriate attitude
• energy and drive
• learning and applying knowledge
• motivation
• moving around the workplace
• problem solving and decision making

References

Brain Injury Association of Queensland 2006, Fact sheets, Brain Injury Association of Queensland, Brisbane, viewed 22 February 2007, <http://www.biaq.com.au/factsheets.htm>.

CRS Australia, 2007, Section 5. Changes in thinking, learning and communication, Australian Government Department of Human Services, Canberra, viewed 24 February, 2007, <http://www.crsaustralia.gov.au/22ew.htm>.

MeritCare 2007, Types of ABI, MeritCare Health System, Fargo, viewed 16
February, 2007,<http://www.meritcare.com/specialties/rehab/brain/abi/>.