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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is 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. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment.
This year, over two million people in America will sustain a traumatic brain injury. Of these:
- 500,000 will suffer moderate to severe injuries requiring medical assistance,
- 373,000 will require hospitalization,
- more than 56,000 will die, or exist in a vegetative state.
A survivor of a severe brain injury:
- faces 5 to 10 years of intensive rehabilitation and
- lifetime treatment costs of over $4 mil.
(The economic cost of brain injury exceeds $48.3 Billion per year.)
More than 14,000 people are treated at Virginia hospitals for a brain injury every year.
There are numerous internet links which provide information on brain injury. We recommend you consult::
Brain Injury Association, the website of our national organization. Particularly useful are pages on "The Anatomy of a Brain Injury", "Costs and Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury", "Prevention Matters", "Treatment and Rehabilitation", and "Issue Briefs" on pending legislation.
Centre for Neuro Skills, which provides a comprehensive resource guide; particularly its Traumatic Brain Injury Resources Guide.
Dana Alliance, a nonprofit organization of more than 185 neuroscientists, that was formed to help provide information about the personal and public benefits of brain research.
Head Injury Hotline and headinjury.com. These related site provide additional information about brain injury, to include a TBI library.
National Resource Center For Traumatic Brain Injury. This site provides brain injury guides, education materials, frequently asked questions, and a lot more.
Brain Injury Society. A site dedicated to providing quick answers on brain injury. Go to the feedback selection and send an e-mail to one of ten professionals who will attempt to provide you an answer.
drkoop.com Health Search, a comprehensive site on medical information from which definitions and articles of interest on all brain injuries is available. Type in the keyword, Brain Injury" and you will receive a number of informational links.
Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide is an online book written by Dr. Glen Johnson, a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Director of the Neuro-Recovery Head Injury Program in Traverse City, MI. It addresses the complaint "There is nothing written that explains head injury in clear, easy to understand language". The goal of this online book is to better prepare the head injured person and family for the long road ahead.
Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) are involved in a prospective, longitudinal multi-center effort to examine the course of recovery and outcomes following TBI. Each center provides a coordinated system of emergency care, acute neurotrauma management, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation and long-term interdisciplinary follow-up services. Currently there are seventeen centers currently funded:
- Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (Detroit)
- The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (Houston)
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (San Jose)
NOTE: At this site you can download the recently revised (May, 2000) Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Directory (TBIRD), which lists hundreds of TBI-related resources in its 25 chapters.- Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (Philadelphia)
- Ohio State University (Columbus)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham)
- Craig Hospital (Englewood, CO)
- Shepherd Center (Atlanta)
- The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Boston)
- Mayo Foundation (Rochester, MN)
- Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center (Jackson, MS)
- University of Missouri (Columbia)
- Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corp. (West Orange, NJ)
- Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation (Charlotte, NC)
- Oregon Health Sciences University (Portland)
- Medical College of Virginia (Richmond)
NOTE: This site was the original TBIMS site developed by Dr. Jeff Kreutzer at MCV- University of Washington (Seattle)
National Institute on Deaf and Communicative Disorders provides health information, news on research, and planning assistance. It includes the National Clearinghouse, a resource center that collects, develops, disseminates, and coordinates the vast amount of information, materials, and resources in the following areas:
- Hearing
- Balance
- Smell
- Taste
- Voice
- Speech
- Language
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) which conducts comprehensive and coordinated programs of research and related activities to maximize the full inclusion, social integration, employment, and independent living of disabled individuals of all ages.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICYCY) is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Our special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22). The link takes you to a fact sheet on Traumatic Brain Injury. Also included are State Resource Sheets that provide information and contacts on brain injury and related disabilities.
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NVBIA Helpline: [703] 569-1855
On the Internet: http://www.nvbia.org
E-mail: info-nvbia@nvbia.org
Or visit our office located at
Brain Injury Services
8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite B102, Springfield, VA 22152
Phone: 703-451-8881 ~ Fax: 703-451-8820
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