Every year in Florida, thousands of people experience traumatic brain injuries. Some result in death or leave victims comatose. But what you may not know is that the long-term impact of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter a person’s life even if they’re not completely incapacitated.
The devastating impact of a TBI
With a brain injury, it can be harder to understand the full consequences in comparison with most other injuries and illnesses. An injury to the brain can have impact in ways both physical and mental.
So much of who we are is governed by the brain. Speech and language, the ability to learn, our emotions and moods, our ability to think – all of these are potentially at risk from a traumatic brain injury.
TBIs are responsible for thousands of people needing assistance to live for the rest of their lives. A TBI can take away a person’s independence forever, and rob them of their plans, hopes and dreams for their future.
Not all TBI effects are obvious
One of terrifying aspects of a TBI is that it can fundamentally change a person’s personality or ability to navigate their daily life.
It’s very apparent when a person suffers a TBI and then struggles with basic speech or the ability to reason. But it’s not quite as clear when a TBI causes a person to lose their temper more easily or struggle with responsibilities they used to be able to handle.
In some cases, the effects of a TBI may linger for weeks or months and may involve a lengthy rehab process. But in other cases, the TBI will subtly (or not so subtly) alter that person for the rest of their life.
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most heartbreaking and unpredictable injuries possible. The effects might be momentary or for life, and could be minor or completely incapacitating.