Traumatic Brain InjuryA traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not caused by a congenital or degenerative nature, it is caused by a physical force external to the head which produces an altered state of consciousness which results in an impairment of cognitive and physical functioning. Depending on the extent of the injury, impairments may be temporary or permanent. The leading cause of head trauma results from blunt trauma to the head during a motorcycle, motor vehicle, or bicycle accident. Some cases of traumatic brain injury have also been observed following sports injuries, gunshot wounds, falls, and/or assaults. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that approximately 5.25 million Americans (children and adults) live with a lifelong disability resulting from a brain injury (Zaloshnja, Miller, Langlois, & Selassie, 2008). Studies show that young children and the elderly are susceptible to fall-related brain injuries, making them very vulnerable. Another type of brain injury that is not congenital, hereditary, or degenerative is acquired brain injury (ABI). A change in neuronal activity due to stroke, heart attack, brain tumor, anoxia, near-choking, aneurysm, and drug overdose commonly causes ABI. Impairments resulting from ABI can be mild, moderate, or severe. Additionally, one or more of the following functional abilities may be impaired: memory, speech, attention/concentration, cognition, reasoning, information processing, behavior, and physical functioning (Edmonston, n.d.). Functional Disabilities The consequences of brain injury will affect no two people in the same way, it depends on the age of the person, the severity of the injury and the duration of the coma. Physical changes that can possibly occur as a result of a...... middle of paper ....../disorders/TBI/Brain Injury Association of Florida. (n.d.). Traumatic brain injury: an often masked disability. Retrieved from http://www.byyourside.org/Edmonston, A. (n.d.). Coordinating resources for individuals with traumatic brain injury: A handbook for human services professionals. Retrieved from http://www.dhmh.maryland.gov/mha/Documents/Resource%20Coordination%20Handbook-%20final.pdfJaffee, M.S., Helmick, K.M., Girard, P.D., Meyer, K.S., Dinegar, K., and George, K. (2009). Acute clinical care and care coordination for traumatic brain injury within the Department of Defense. J Rehabil Res Dev, 46(6), 655-666. Zaloshnja, E., Miller, T., Langlois, J. A., & Selassie, A. W. (2008). Prevalence of long-term disability from traumatic brain injury in the civilian population of the United States. The Journal of Head Injury Rehabilitation, 23(6), 394-400.