There are many different types of brain injury, depending upon the severity of the force upon the head, as well as which portion of the brain is affected. To simplify, brain injuries can be classified as traumatic or acquired, with additional types under each heading. All brain injuries are described as either mild, moderate, or severe.
Traumatic brain injury is a result of an external force to the brain that results in a change to cognitive, physical, or emotional functioning. The impairments can be temporary or permanent. Types of traumatic brain injury include:
An acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or the result of birth trauma. Acquired brain injury generally affects cells throughout the entire brain. Types of acquired brain injury include:
The Glascow Coma Scale is used to describe the level of initial injury relative to the neurological severity caused to the brain.
Mild traumatic brain injury occurs when loss of consciousness does not occur or occurs very briefly, and testing or scans of the brain seem normal.
Moderate traumatic brain injury occurs when loss of consciousness lasts a few minutes to a few hours, confusion lasts for days or weeks, and physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments are evident.
Severe brain injury occurs when unconsciousness or coma lasts days, weeks, or months, and is characterized by permanent physical, cognitive, or emotional impairments.