Brain injury: A life-long challenge
Approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, most often as a result of a vehicular accident. A brain injury can occur at any time, to anyone. However, recent polls indicate that most Americans are relatively unaware of brain injury as a national concern.
Every brain injury is different, but survivors may experience the following cognitive, physical and emotional long-term disabilities:
- Short-term memory loss, hampering ability to learn and retain information.
- Inability to drive automobiles.
- Difficulty showering, grooming, dressing, cooking, and performing other activities of daily living.
- Frustration at not being able to do things they used to do.
- Strained family relationships, due to the frequent need for supervision and assistance.
(As reported by the Center for Disease Control, the Brain Injury Association, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, and Tom Novack, PhD)
For more informations visit:
Brain Injury Association Of Massachusetts
Brain Injury Association of America
Recent brain injury statistics
- A person in the U.S. sustains a traumatic brain injury every 16 seconds.
- Two million brain injuries occur each year in the U.S.
- Each year, 70,000 - 90,000 individuals will suffer lifelong, debilitating loss of function following a traumatic brain injury.
- 75,000 - 100,000 American die each year as a result of traumatic brain injury.
- Motor vehicle accidents cause one-half of all traumatic brain injuries.
- A survivor of a severe brain injury requires between $4 million and $9 million in lifetime care.
- Two-thirds of those who sustain brain injuries are under the age of 34.
- Brain injury has killed more Americans under the age of 34 than all other causes combined and has claimed more lives since the turn of the century than all U.S. wars combined.
- Child abuse accounts for 64% of infant brain injuries.
- Seat belt usage reduces deaths and injuries.
- Today, the only cure for traumatic brain injury is prevention.
Links
Following is a list of organizations providing information and resources on brain injuries. We hope the information on these sites is useful to you.
Advocates, Inc.
The Massachusetts Brain Injury Association
The Brain Injury Association of America
Brainline
