Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is damage to the skull and/or the brain due to an external physical force, or to the absence of essentials such as heat or oxygen. TBI is a major cause of injury, disability, and death in South Carolina. Each year in SC TBI leads to 1,000 deaths, 2,800 hospital discharges (HD) and 11,500 emergency department (ED) visits. Motor vehicle crashes (MVC) (33%) are the leading cause of TBI deaths followed by suicide (24%) and homicide (12%). People between the ages of 20 to 34 years old die from TBI more than any other age group. TBI-related death is the highest among white males.
The leading causes of none-fatal TBI in SC are:
- Falls (29%);
- Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (25%);
- Struck by/against events (11%); and
- Assaults (10%).
TBI may cause problems with:
- Cognition—concentration, memory, judgment, and mood;
- Movement abilities—strength, coordination, and balance;
- Sensation—tactile sensation and special senses such as vision;
- Emotion—instability and impulsivity
Signs and Symptoms of TBI:
- Headaches or neck pain that do not go away;
- Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions;
- Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading;
- Getting lost or easily confused;
- Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation;
- Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason);
- Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping);
- Light-headedness, dizziness, or loss of balance;
- Urge to vomit (nausea);
- Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions;
- Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily;
- Loss of sense of smell or taste; and
- Ringing in the ears.
TBI Prevention:
- Wearing a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
- Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child's height, weight, and age).
- Never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Wearing a helmet and making sure your children wear helmets when:
- Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or all-terrain vehicle;
- Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing;
- Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
- Batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
- Riding a horse; or
- Skiing or snowboarding.
- Making living areas safer for seniors, by:
- Removing tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways;
- Using nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
- Installing grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower;
- Installing handrails on both sides of stairways;
- Improving lighting throughout the home; and
- Maintaining a regular physical activity program, if your doctor agrees, to improve lower body strength and balance.
- Making living areas safer for children, by:
- Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows; and
- Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.
- Making sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For additional information contact:
Nichole Spivey, Program Coordinator, 803-545-4507
If you are suffering with TBI or know a person with TBI, there are resources and support groups available by clicking on links provided below: