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Acquired Brain Injury

What is an Acquired Brain Injury?

An acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any type of brain damage that happens after birth. Brain damage caused from an ABI can lead to changes in structure in one or multiple areas of the brain, which often affect normal brain functions. Impairments sustained from an ABI can last anywhere from days to a lifetime.
ABI is an umbrella term for the two types of acquired brain injury: Traumatic or non-traumatic.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when an external force injures the brain. TBIs are caused by an outside force, like a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. This can happen in many ways, and the severity of the injury can range from mild (a temporary disruption of brain function) to severe (prolonged unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). Here's a closer look at how TBIs can happen:

Common Causes of TBI

Falls
This is the leading cause of TBIs. Falling off a ladder, slipping in the bath, or tripping over are examples.
Vehicle-related Collisions
Car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and even pedestrians being hit by vehicles can lead to TBIs. The sudden stop or change in movement can cause the brain to move inside the skull.
Sports Injuries
Contact sports like football, or boxing, as well as high-impact activities like skateboarding or snowboarding, can lead to TBIs.
Violence
Assaults, gunshot wounds, domestic violence, and other forms of violence can cause TBIs.
Explosive Blasts and Other Combat Injuries
Military personnel can experience TBIs from blasts in combat situations. The shockwaves from explosions can cause brain injuries even without a direct blow to the head.

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

A non-traumatic brain injury, unlike a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which is caused by an external force or impact to the head, results from internal factors. These injuries can disrupt the brain's function but are not caused by external trauma. Here are the main causes and types of non-traumatic brain injuries:

Causes of Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)
Occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts (haemorrhagic stroke), leading to brain damage.
Lack of Oxygen (Hypoxic-Anoxic Injury)
Hypoxic (reduced oxygen) and anoxic (no oxygen) brain injuries can occur from events where the brain's oxygen supply is compromised, such as in drowning, cardiac arrest, or complications from general anaesthesia.
Infections
Infections like meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) can cause brain damage.
Tumours
Brain tumours can damage brain tissue either by exerting pressure on parts of the brain as they grow or by invading areas of the brain, disrupting normal brain function.
Toxic Exposure
Exposure to toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide, lead, or certain drugs, can lead to brain damage.
Metabolic Disorders
Conditions that disrupt the balance of metabolic processes in the body, such as diabetic coma or thyroid disorders, can indirectly cause brain injury.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis can lead to progressive brain damage over time.

Effects of an Acquired Brain Injury

The brain is the bodies most important muscle. It is responsible for every thought, feeling and action, which is why the effects of an injury can be wide and varied, and while this also means everyone experiences an ABI, here are a few of the potential effects:

Physical Effects

Motor Function
Individuals may face difficulty with their coordination and balance. They may also find their muscles are weaker then prior to the ABI and in some circumstances partial or complete paralysis.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common and challenging effect of ABI. It can make focusing hard and sap the energy needed for daily tasks. Managing this type of fatigue often requires a combination of strategies, including pacing activities, structured rest, and sometimes medication.
Seizures
For some, ABI can lead to seizures. Seizures can vary a lot in how they look and feel, from noticeable convulsions to brief moments of confusion or sensory changes. Medication and monitoring are key to managing seizure risk and ensuring safety.
Motor Function
Following a brain injury, it is not uncommon for an individual’s language skills to affected. Some people may struggle to control the muscles responsible for speech, resulting in slow or slurred words (a condition called dysarthria). This can make communication with others challenging, leading to feelings of exhaustion and frustration. However, those who frequently interact with the person affected may gradually become more adept at understanding them. In certain cases, individuals might entirely lose their ability to speak and may need to depend on alternative methods of communication. It’s important to remember that difficulties in expressing oneself don't imply a loss of understanding or intelligence. Being unable to speak doesn't mean someone can't comprehend information or thoughts shared with them.
Sensory Changes
Altered sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, or hearing. For example, touch may be heightened to the point where it is painful to even be touched. On the flip side touch may be significantly reduced or even lost. This is especially hazardous as an individual may not be able to notice when a surface is hot, putting them at risk of burns.

Cognitive Effects

Memory Issues
ABI can lead to problems with short-term memory, making it hard to remember recent events or information. Long-term memories might also be affected. Using memory aids and establishing routines can help manage these issues.
Attention and Concentration
After an ABI people may find it challenging to focus or maintain attention on tasks, with distractions easily breaking their concentration. Gradually increasing focus through therapeutic activities can aid in improvement.
Executive Functions
Planning, organizing, problem-solving, and decision-making skills can be compromised. Cognitive rehabilitation can target these areas, helping individuals develop strategies to manage daily tasks more effectively.
Information Processing
The speed at which information is understood and responded to can decrease, affecting communication and the ability to learn new things. Breaking down information into smaller parts and allowing extra time for responses can be helpful strategies.

Emotional and Behavioural Effects

Mood Swings
: Individuals may experience sudden and intense shifts in mood, ranging from elation to sadness, often without a clear trigger.
Depression and Anxiety
After an ABI it is common for people to experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or excessive worry. These feelings can emerge for several reasons post-ABI. The injury itself can directly affect the areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, leading to chemical imbalances that predispose individuals to depression and anxiety. Additionally, the profound life changes and challenges in adjusting to a new way of living can contribute to feelings of sadness, loss, and worry, further exacerbating these conditions.
Personality Changes
As ABI can affect the frontal lobes, the area of the brain associated with personality, decision-making, and social behaviour, damage here can lead to alterations in how an individual thinks, behaves, and interacts with others, resulting in changes that might make them seem like a different person. This can include becoming more impulsive, showing less empathy, or exhibiting behaviours that are out of character.
Social Skills
Difficulty in social situations may arise after an acquired brain injury. Individuals might struggle to pick up on subtle cues, such as body language or tone of voice, leading to misunderstandings. Additionally, difficulties in regulating emotions can make it hard to respond appropriately in social settings.

Long-term Consequences

The long-term effects of an ABI can range from mild, allowing a return to most or all pre-injury activities, to severe, requiring long-term care and support. Recovery varies greatly among individuals and depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of the injury, the specific areas of the brain affected, and the rehabilitation services available.

It's important for individuals with ABI and their families to receive comprehensive support from a multidisciplinary team. This team can include medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists (such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists), psychologists, and social workers. Rehabilitation and support can play a critical role in maximizing recovery and helping individuals adapt to changes in their abilities and lifestyle.

Rehabilitation

The school of thought used to be that recovery of function after an ABI can only happen in the first six months and that after that, it isn’t possible to make any progress. That is not the case. Recovery is process that can continue to happen for the rest of your life. While there might not be such a thing as a medication that will cure an ABI, there is the enormous asset of rehabilitative support.
Rehabilitation involves the collaboration of a multi-disciplinary team. This team will include a:
Neuropsychologist
For treatment of behavioural, emotional, and cognitive problems.
Occupational Therapist
To help in developing your independence, by devising activities that will help you relearn certain skills.
Speech and Language Therapist
To help develop communication skills. Improved communication skills opens up the opportunity for you to re immerse yourself in the participation of family, social and professional situations.
Physiotherapist
To help you regain the use of your muscles, allowing for you to become as mobile and independent as possible.
Our nurses are the ones who bring it all together by ensuring the strategies suggested by the therapists are followed consistently. We’ll also make sure that members of the multi-disciplinary team are promptly alerted of any changes in your condition, as well as scheduling future therapist sessions.

Our Approach

After a brain injury the future can seem unclear and unpredictable. Being able to stay in the familiar settings of your own home and community can provide you with the anchor you need in.

At Practical Care we understand that brain injuries affect different people in different ways. That is why each of our care plans are uniquely crafted to cater to your specific needs.

We take the time needed to get to know you. We’re not just interested in your injury, we want to know what your goals, hobbies, work, and social life was before the condition. We also want to know what aspirations or worries you may hold going forward. With this knowledge we will be able to work with you and create a tailored care plan which provides your recovery with a short-, medium- and long-term strategy.

Key to our approach is assisting you in learning new skills in order to improve the overall quality of your life with as much independence as possible. We emphasis you doing as much for yourself as possible, even introducing structured risks to push you just outside your comfort zone as that’s where the real improvement happens (imagine being at the gym). We will also assist you in learning skills needed for employment along with encouraging you to partake in vocational courses. All done with the intention of you living a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Our Brain Injury Services Include

Support with wide range of daily tasks from personal hygiene, and household chores, to socialising and companionship.
Support and encouragement to relearn basic life skills and daily routines.
Assisting you in activities outside the home, giving you the confidence to eventually gain greater independence.
Liasing with multi-disciplinary teams, along with implementing their rehabilitation instructions.
Assisting with medication administration.

Types of ABI Care

Visiting Care
Complex Care
Live-in Care
Respite Care

Types of MS Care

Given the diverse nature and progression of MS symptoms, we offer various care packages tailored to your specific requirements:
Live-in Care
Ideal for those with significant mobility challenges or severe symptoms. Continuous care ensures safety and peace of mind for both you and your loved ones, relieving stress for family members, especially those living afar.
Respite Care
Provides a compassionate break for caregivers, allowing them time to recharge, while offering a refreshing change of pace and scenery for care recipients. This service strengthens the bond between caregivers and their loved ones, ensuring care is delivered with empathy and understanding at its core.
Visiting Care
Provides a compassionate break for caregivers, allowing them time to recharge, while offering a refreshing change of pace and scenery for care recipients. This service strengthens the bond between caregivers and their loved ones, ensuring care is delivered with empathy and understanding at its core.
Helpful Resources
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/
MS Society
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/
WHO
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multiple-sclerosis
© 2025. All Rights Reserved. Practical Care | Caring Beyond Expectations.
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