Acquired brain injury occurs when there is damage to the living brain tissue from external forces like falls, accidents, assaults, or internal causes like infections, strokes, or lack of oxygen. The brain weighs about 3 pounds and contains over 100 billion nerve cells that communicate electrochemically. Common causes of brain injury are falls, accidents, assaults, and strokes. Brain injury can cause cognitive, behavioral, and psychological effects as well as physical impairments. Recovery requires patience and support from others to help with recall, tasks, and navigating limitations. Understanding brain injury is important to provide appropriate assistance to survivors.

1. Brain Injury
– begin to understand
David Crozier CFPcm
3b Milltown Hill, Warrenpoint, Newry, Proud to be sponsors of
Co Down BT34 3QY
T: 028 3085 1199
E: david@navigatorFP.com
Navigator Financial Planning Ltd is an Appointed Representative of
Financial Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial
Services Authority.

2. What is Acquired Brain Injury?
• Injury to the living brain tissue
– external forces
– infections of the brain
– stroke
– metabolic disturbance
– lack of oxygen

3. Brain facts
• Weighs about 3lbs
• Texture of blancmange
• 100 billion nerve cells
• Each has contact with thousands of other cells
• Messages between cells are electrochemical

4. Causes of brain injury
Falls/ Domestic
Accidents 20%
Assaults 10%
Work/ Sport Accidents
5%
Road Accidents 40%
Non-Trauma 25%

5. Who is at risk?
• Males aged 15-29
• People over 65
• Relatively low death rate.
– Life-long challenges

6. Traumatic Brain Injury – Acute Phase
• First Injury – direct impact
• penetrating injury (rare)
• closed impact (common)
• shearing forces
– Damage to brain tissue
– Disruption of communication pathways.
• Second Injury
– brain swelling
– pressure from bleeding inside the cranial cavity
– impairment of blood circulation.
• Third Injury
– chemical changes at the cellular level

7. Working Definitions of a Brain Injury
• Minor brain injury (loss of consciousness of under 15 mins, or no loss of
consciousness. PTA of less than an hour) GCS 13-15. Common symptoms
are often resolved by 6 months. However, some studies have shown
genetic vulnerability (APOE – 4)
• Moderate brain injury (loss of consciousness 15 mins – 6 hours. PTA of up
to 24 hours) GCS 9-12
• Severe brain injury (Coma for 6 hours or more. PTA 24 hours or more.
Requires longer period of intensive care. GCS <9) Lower GCS scores also
associated with higher chance of post-trauma seizures.
PTA = Post Traumatic Amnesia
GCS = Glasgow Coma Scale

8. Brain Diagram

9. Brain Injury Effects
• Cognitive effects
– memory
– concentration
– thinking skills
– spatial perception
– vision problems
– communication disorders.

10. Brain Injury Effects
• Behavioural effects
• irritability
• lack of tact
• disinhibited behaviour
• agitation

11. Brain Injury Effects
• Psychological effects
– Paranoia
– depression (when awareness returns)
– anxiety

12. Brain Injury – the physical effects.
• Paralysis and spasticity
• Ataxia
• Co-Ordination problems
• Loss of taste and/or smell
• Sight problems
• Loss of feedback of physical sensations
• Sexual problems
• Sleep/Wake cycle problems
• Speech and language problems

13. ATTENTION! – a vital component
• Selective
• Divided
• Sustained

14. Memory after
brain injury

15. Brain injury misconceptions
‘He’s lazy’
‘He’s drunk’
‘He’s putting it on!’ ‘He looks fine!’

16. How you can help
• Support
• Simplify
• Prompt
• Encourage
• Recall of experiences
• Practical tasks

17. Working with brain injury survivors
• Be patient
• Be prepared
• Know your limits

18. Video
Recovery
A BBC series about traumatic brain injury, starring David Tennant

19. Understanding Brain Injury
An Overview
Email: david@navigatorfp.com
Twitter: @davidcroziercfp
3b Milltown Hill, Warrenpoint, Newry, Proud to be sponsors of
Co Down BT34 3QY
T: 028 3085 1199
E: david@navigatorFP.com
Navigator Financial Planning Ltd is an Appointed Representative of
Financial Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial
Services Authority.