Brain injury or brain damage is the pathological condition wherein brain cells are destroyed. This degeneration of brain cells may result from a variety of situations or conditions, diseases and injuries"usually to the head. These damages to the brain could be caused by a prolonged shortage of oxygen supplied to the brain, certain infections, trauma and neurological disorders. Although it is difficult to assess or gauge the actual damage done to a person's life, assessing the extent of the brain damage could be done by letting the patient undergo a neurological examination. Neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments are also done in order to further assess the extent of brain cell degeneration. However, in the cases of children or infants who are suffering from brain damage, it is more difficult for specialists to gauge the extent and effects of the damage. This is because different areas of the brain mature at different stages. For example, it would be impossible to know if the area responsible for speech has been damaged until the infant reaches the speaking age. The extent of the brain injury and the location of the damaged tissues play an important role in knowing what effects and problems the patient may have. For example, damage to the brain stem can very much likely lead to paralysis or a permanent vegetative state. Other effects of brain injury are delusions or hallucinations, speech problems such as slurring, decreased mobility, neurocognitive deficits, amnesia, coma and even death. Impairment or disability that is caused by brain injury may be treated differently depending on the severity of brain cell degeneration. These treatments include medication, surgery, neuropsychological rehabilitation and physical implants. In severe cases, there are also methods such as deep brain stimulation. Rehabilitation of brain-damaged patients is spearheaded by specialists in this area such as neurosurgeons, neurologists and neuropsychologists. These experts are capable of understanding the effects of brain injury, assessing brain damage and creating the appropriate rehabilitation program for each patient. In such programs, professionals help patients regain complete body functions and relearn essential skills. |
