June Is Brain Injury Awareness Month
Brain Injury can change your life Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is caused by traumatic and non-traumatic events that injure the brain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a blow to the head or spinning forces on the brain. Common causes include motor vehicle crashes, falls or assaults. Non-traumatic brain injury is caused by illness such as meningitis and encephalitis; anoxic events - whereby oxygen flow to the brain is disrupted as in strokes, aneurysms or during cardiac arrest and near-drowning. The brain can also be damaged from tumors, hydrocephalus and substance abuse. Every year in Canada, over 11,000 people die as a result of a Traumatic Brain Injury. Over 4,000 will die in Ontario alone. The leading causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle crashes, bicycle crashes, and sports related injuries. TBI is the leading cause of death and disability among children. It is estimated that the direct and indirect costs associated with Traumatic Brain Injury are $3 billion annually in...