Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are injuries to the brain caused by an external force. They can be focal, meaning that the damage is confined to one area of the brain, or diffuse, being more than one area of the brain. In addition, the severity of a head injury can vary from a mild TBI or concussion to severe, which can result in a coma or paralysis.

A head injury is unlike any other type of injury because it can affect an individual’s personality and cognitive abilities. Also, no two brain injuries are alike; since the consequences of two similar injuries can be entirely different. Specialized care and treatment focused on the wellness of the brain are necessary.

 

Types of TBI

 

1. Mild TBI

2. Severe TBI

Difficulties of Traumatic Brain Injuries

• Academic and occupational difficulties include concentrating, headaches, and speech impairments.
• Academic and occupational difficulties that prevent an individual from attending.
• Difficulties speaking which results in significant social difficulties.

 

Symptoms of TBI

Mild TBI:

Mild forms of traumatic brain injury will be temporary and will include physical symptoms, sensory symptoms, and cognitive/mental.

 

Symptoms Include:

• Disorientation and confusion
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Vomiting and/or nausea
• Speech difficulties
• Short loss of consciousness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feeling depressed and or anxious
• Mood changes
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in ears

 

Severe TBI:

The effects of a severe TBI can be long-lasting or even permanent. Most people that suffer from a severe TBI may face life-long challenges that will require them to adapt. Like mild TBI’s, symptoms will be both physical and cognitive/mental.

 

Symptoms include:

• Loss of consciousness up to several hours or days
• Persistent or continued headaches
• Convulsions/seizures
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Fluids dripping out of ears or nose
• Comas
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion
• Unusual behavior followed by extreme mood
• Slurred speech

 

What are Concussions?

Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury, experienced by millions of people worldwide. Occurring the same way as other TBI’s, these are common within contact sports such as football, where head blows or other forms of contact are common.

 

Common Symptoms of Concussions include:

• Headaches
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Amnesia or loss of memory
• Dizziness
• Speech difficulties such as slurring words
• Nausea and/or vomiting

 

Types of Concussions:

Grade 1: mild concussion with symptoms that last less than 15 minutes and involve no loss of consciousness.

Grade 2: moderate, with symptoms that last more than 15 minutes and too, involve no loss of consciousness.

Grade 3: severe, where the person loses consciousness, even if for a few seconds.

 

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in several ways:

• car crash
• exposure to toxic substances
• bullet wound
• sport injury
• a metabolic disorder
• lack of oxygen
• tumors
• infections
• stroke

 

How can we help?

Your treatment for a brain injury will depend on the severity of the impact and level of damage. At Elumind, you’ll find alternative and complementary therapies to assist in your healing process from an integrative neuroscience perspective.

Beginning with a therapeutic assessment, identifying psychological symptoms and consequences of the brain injury will be necessary. Then, our QEEG Brain Mapping will give us a precise understanding of which brain areas are distressed and requiring support.  Based on those findings, an advanced protocol of Neurofeedback trains those precise areas to help regain lost function.  In addition, Neurofeedback therapy will help to restore sleeping patterns and reduce irritability, anxiety, and symptoms of depression.

The emotional and mental repercussions of a TBI can be addressed through Psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Hypnosis, and new awareness strategies can be developed.

Nutrition Counselling and Functional Medicine will allow a complete analysis of your bio-psycho-social-emotional profile of mental health, which we can use as a roadmap for treatments such as Life Coaching, Medications, and Nutritional Supplements.