Family Caregiver Guide: Introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury (Module 1)

Module 1 Summary

In this section, you can find basic information about:

• the parts of the brain and what they do
• the causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• how the brain changes after TBI
• how the brain begins to recover.

You can use this information to understand:

• how the brain works
• what you might see during recovery
• why you might see changes in how your service member/veteran
• thinks and acts due to a TBI.

TBIs are classified by how severe or serious they are at the time of injury. TBIs range from mild (concussion) to moderate to severe.

This module provides information on moderate to severe TBI. Doctors, nurses, and other health care providers who work with TBI guided
 content.

As you read through this document, ask your health care providers to explain what you don’t understand.

Some key points are:

• The brain is the body’s control center.
• The parts of the brain work together to help us think, feel, move, and talk.
• A TBI is caused by a penetrating injury or by blunt force trauma to the head.
• TBI is very common in both civilian and military populations.
• Many different health care providers will help diagnose and treat your service member/veteran with TBI.
• It is the goal of health care providers to minimize complications, the things that can go wrong after the injury.
• Many service members/veterans with TBI go through common stages of recovery. Each person, however, progresses at his or her own pace.
• Recovery from a TBI may be measured in weeks, months, or years.
• Promising new research is showing the brain’s capacity for healing.
• There are many ways you can support your service member/veteran with TBI throughout his or her recovery.

Be hopeful. The brain is very good at repairing itself.

Read some of the chapters in this module:

• Chapter 1: The Basics of TBI
• Chapter 5: Potential Complications Following TBI
• Appendix B: Rancho Los Amigos Levels