Traumatic Brain Injury, Startling Statistics
The recent death of screen and stage actress Natasha Richardson from what appeared to be a mild head injury has brought forth some startling statistics regarding the frequency of traumatically caused brain injuries, and the long term disabilities that they cause.
Most traumatic brain injuries are sustained in vehicular collisions. Traumatic brain injuries also occur in sports accidents, falls and violent assaults. According to the Brain Injury Resource Foundation, approximately 1.5 to 2 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year in the United States. Of these, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 50,000 people die.
As reported by Injuryboard.com, males are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than females. Persons 15-24 years of age, or over the age of 75, are most commonly affected.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental impairments. Impairment of cognitive functioning can effect a persons ability to learn, work, socialize and even take care of themselves. Many traumatic brain injuries are initially overlooked, as the deficits may be very mild at first. Those who have suffered mild traumatic brain injuries often feel that their memory and other cognitive processing will simply improve with time. Often they do. However, when the effects of the traumatic brain injury continue beyond a year, no matter how mild they may be perceived, evaluation should be sought from a medical or neuropsychological expert. Delay in seeking such an evaluation could be detrimental as the ability to restore certain cognitive deficits may be irreversible with time.