A traumatic brain injury can happen in an instant, leading to suffering injuries that may cause you pain, disabilities or other problems in your life. Even normal everyday activities can lead to a brain injury if you hit your head, making it a common occurrence that affects many people each year.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Brain Injuries on Friday, May 1, 2015.

A traumatic brain injury can happen in an instant, leading to suffering injuries that may cause you pain, disabilities or other problems in your life. Even normal everyday activities can lead to a brain injury if you hit your head, making it a common occurrence that affects many people each year.

Thousands of Canadians suffer from brain injuries each year, according to the Brain Injury Association of Canada. Some injuries are caused by head injuries while playing sports, some are caused by car accidents, and others may be caused by workplace accidents. Regardless of the cause, many of the people who suffer are children or young adults, and even if they have a long life expectancy following the injury, they could need special care throughout their lives as they recover.

Brain injuries vary in severity, making it hard to know exactly what to expect. While every brain injury is one of a kind, there are some similarities. For instance, many people who suffer brain injuries have trouble with their memories, headaches and impaired reasoning skills. Physical disabilities can also result, such as the paralysis of body parts or the loss of vision or hearing. Speech impediments are common, and some people lose the ability to smell. Even seizures have been known to occur after brain trauma.

Emotionally, those who have suffered a brain injury may need therapy or other forms of care while they adjust to a new lifestyle. A chronic or disabling condition can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety or depression, so this kind of assistance can be meaningful in their lives.

Source: Brain Injury Association of Canada, “What is Brain Injury?,” accessed April 23, 2015