What is a head injury?

Head Injury is damage to living brain tissue caused by an external mechanical force. It is usually characterised by a period of unconsciousness lasting minutes, months or indefinitely. The resulting damage to the brain tissue impairs the individual's abilities both physically and mentally. Other causes of head injuries are chemical exposure and alcohol related damage.

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Who are the most vulnerable?

There are some groups in the community who are more susceptible to head injury than others:

• Young Adults aged 17-25, mainly male, make up 50% of known head injury victims, usually as the result of car accidents.
• Pre Schoolers are the next most vulnerable with falls from play equipment, windows and down stairs.
• The Elderly are also vulnerable to head injury mainly from falls in the home.

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How many people suffer head injuries and how do they occur?

About 170 New Zealanders are hospitilised with head injuries every week and many more are concussed or have mild head injuries. These can be caused by:

• traffic accidents,
• sporting accidents,
• accidents at home,
• industrial accident,
• strokes,
• birth injury and
• tumours.

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What are the effects?

Most people resume a normal life, but some will be left with acquired brain damage, resulting in varying degrees of disabilities.

These may be one or more of the following:

• physical disabilities
• sensory disabilities (eg sight, smell) personality change
• cognitive disabilities (eg difficulty thinking clearly, planning and following through, memory problems)
• difficulty expressing or understanding language

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What are the ongoing problems?

After getting over the initial dramatic impact on ones life many sufferers of head injury contionue to have problems. They may include:

• Aggression
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Impulsiveness
• Mood Swings
• Loss of memory
• Poor concentration
• Difficulty with problem solving
• Passivity

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The family becomes involved

Head injuries don't only affect the individual the whole family is affected. The difficulties families face include:

• Shock
• Adjusting to changes in the person with acquired brain damage
• Stresses of caring for the person
• Relationship problems
• Financial problems
• Legal problems
• Dealing with the health system
• Isolation

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What can happen?

Damage to brain tissue may affect the individuals' cognitive abilities, cause physical changes, and affect personality and behaviour.

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Everybody reacts differently to a head injury

Some experience cognitive problems such as:

• Poor memory
• Lack of concentration and attention levels
• Problem solving difficulties
• Diminished understanding
• Speech difficulties
• Difficulty expressing themselves

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Physical changes can include

• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Trouble sleeping
• Changes in sexual interest
• Vision problems

Some people may experience personality and behavioural changes such as:

• Irritation and angry outbursts
• Lack of tolerance
• Anxiety and depression
• Inappropriate behaviour in social functions

It is possible that the person will be unaware of the extent of these changes.

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Other names for head injury

Head injuries are also called traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and acquired brain injuries (ABI).

Head injury, in our concept, describes damage suffered by the brain, usually from the head hitting a hard object or from violent movement.

Car Accidents are the most common cause but damage may also occur as a result of a fall, a blow to the head, severe shaking, whiplash or sports injury.

Cardiac arrest (heart failure), tumours, haemorrhages and strokes, infections of the brain, exposure to solvents as well as drugs and alcohol are also causes of brain injury.

Different parts of the brain control different functions. But all parts of the brain work together.

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