Useful information and real hope for patients and families whose lives have been altered by traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury is a life-changing event, affecting an individual’s lifestyle, ability to work, relationships—even personality. Whatever caused it—car crash, work accident, sports injury, domestic violence, combat—a severe blow to the head results in acute and, often, lasting symptoms. People with brain injury benefit from understanding, patience, and assistance in recovering their bearings and functioning to their full abilities. In The Traumatized Brain, neuropsychiatrists Drs. Vani Rao and Sandeep Vaishnavi—experts in helping people heal after head trauma—explain how traumatic brain injury, whether mild, moderate, or severe, affects the brain. They advise readers on how emotional symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mania, and apathy can be treated; how behavioral symptoms such as psychosis, aggression, impulsivity, and sleep disturbances can be addressed; and how cognitive functions like attention, memory, executive functioning, and language can be improved. They also discuss headaches, seizures, vision problems, and other neurological symptoms of traumatic brain injury. By stressing that symptoms are real and are directly related to the trauma, Rao and Vaishnavi hope to restore dignity to people with traumatic brain injury and encourage them to ask for help. Each chapter incorporates case studies and suggestions for appropriate medications, counseling, and other treatments and ends with targeted tips for coping. The book also includes a useful glossary, a list of resources, and suggestions for further reading.

This thoroughly revised and updated work covers numerous advances in traumatic brain injury diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and pathophysiology. Since publication of the first edition in 2012, there has been greatly increased public awareness of the clinical consequences of even the mildest of head injuries, and the result has been a concerted effort of countries around the world to increase research funding. This second edition continues to focus on mild traumatic brain injury--or concussion--and contains updates to all the original chapters as well as adding new chapters addressing clinical sequelae, including pediatric concussion, visual changes, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and blast-associated TBI. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, Management, and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, is a comprehensive resource designed for neurologists, primary care clinicians, sports physicians, and other medical providers, including psychologists and neuropsychologists, as well as athletic trainers who may evaluate and care for individuals who have sustained a TBI. The book features summaries of the most pertinent areas of diagnosis and therapy, which can be readily accessed by the busy clinician/professional. In addition, the book's treatment algorithms provide a highly practical reference to cutting edge therapies, and an updated appendix of ICD codes is included. An outstanding contribution to the literature, Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, Management, and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, again offers an invaluable resource for all providers who treat patients with TBI.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides disability compensation to veterans with a service-connected injury, and to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran must submit a claim or have a claim submitted on his or her behalf. Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans reviews the process by which the VA assesses impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury for purposes of awarding disability compensation. This report also provides recommendations for legislative or administrative action for improving the adjudication of veterans' claims seeking entitlement to compensation for all impairments arising from a traumatic brain injury.

The Essential Brain Injury Guide Edition 5.0, Revised is a text that provides a wealth of vital information about brain injury, its treatment and rehabilitation. Over 60 authors contributed to this edition, which includes an overview of topics including TBI and diagnostic imaging, medical, physical, cognitive, neurobehavioral, and psychosocial consequences of injury, TBI in pediatrics and adolescents, as well as aging with a brain injury. Information on concussions and mTBI, as well as disorders of consciousness, rehabilitation philosophy, outcome measurement, and care management, the effect of brain injuries on families, cultural, gender, and sexuality issues, impacts on military populations, neuropsychology and participation and return to work is also included.The Essential Brain Injury Guide 5.0 has been used as the primary brain injury reference by thousands of professionals and para-professionals providing direct services to persons with brain injury over the past 20 years.

In order to reduce the number of deaths from severe head injuries, systematic management is essential. This book is a practical, comprehensive guide to the treatment of patients (both adults and children) with such injuries, from the time of initial contact through to the rehabilitation center. Sections are devoted to prehospital treatment, admission and diagnostics, acute management, and neurointensive care and rehabilitation. Evidence-based recommendations are presented for each diagnostic and therapeutic measure, and tips, tricks, and pitfalls are highlighted. Throughout, the emphasis is on the provision of sound clinical advice that will maximize the likelihood of an optimal outcome. Helpful flowcharts designed for use in daily routine are also provided. The authors are all members of the Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee and have extensive practical experience in the areas they write about.

This is a comprehensive, must-have reference that provides parents with the support and information they need to help their child recover from a closed-head injury and prevent further incidents. Coping with traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves a complex process of readjustment to the changes in a once healthy child and affects everyone in the family. Traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain abruptly and violently moves within the skull as a result of extreme force to the head during an automobile, biking, or playground accident, for example. The effects of TBI can range from mild to severe and recovery can take from weeks to years. Although each child's condition is unique, all TBI patients experience impairment in one or more of the following areas: cognition; emotion/behaviour; and motor skills. While TBI can happen to anyone, children, particularly teens, are susceptible. And, children who have already had one TBI are at greatest risk. Written by a team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and an attorney, the book covers: what is traumatic brain injury?; medical concerns; rehabilitation and treatments; coping and adjustment; effects on learning and thinking, speech and language, and behaviour; educational needs; and legal issues. Throughout the book, a case study of a boy who was injured at age eight, illustrates the effects of TBI on education, socialisation and independence. Parent statements at the end of each chapter attest to the variety of response families have, and offer insight about the experience of raising a child with TBI. A resource guide of support and advocacy organisations, a reading list, and glossary round out this authoritative guide. This book is useful to professionals who provide services to children with TBI and their families. General and special educators will find it essential reading to help their students with TBI. But most of all, the book gives parents the hope and facts they need to improve the outcome of their child's recovery.

This book provides a guide to effective case management, outlining all the key issues that professionals working with brain-injured people will need to know, from understanding what brain injury actually is and how it feels to experience it to strategies for rehabilitation, assessing risk and implementing support plans.

Covering the full spectrum of rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury, this practical reference by Drs. Blessen C. Eapen and David X. Cifu presents best practices and considerations for numerous patient populations and their unique needs. In an easy-to-read, concise format, it covers the key information you need to guide your treatment plans and help patients relearn critical life skills and regain their independence. - Covers neuroimaging, neurosurgical and critical care management, management of associated complications after TBI, pharmacotherapy, pain management, sports concussion, assistive technologies, and preparing patients for community reintegration. - Discusses special populations, including pediatric, geriatric, and military and veteran patients. - Consolidates today's available information and guidance in this challenging and diverse area into one convenient resource.

Traumatic Brain Injury is a silent global epidemic, and the outcome of this tragic event spans a wide spectrum of symptoms, future complications and disabilities. While prevention is the cure, it is an undeniable fact that living with Traumatic Brain Injury is the real challenge. The good news, however, is that with the right knowledge and approach, you can live a normal life after any TBI. This book will be your best guide in learning about TBI scientifically and practically, so you can be ready to take the right action at the right time to limit the damage and overcome the challenges that come with it, both as the patient and as the caretaker. - back cover