TBI FAQ: Cognitive and Communication Disorders - part 1 of 3
TBI: Cognitive and Communication Disorders
What are the cognitive and communication problems that result from traumatic brain injury?
Cognitive and communication problems that result from traumatic brain injury vary from person to person. These problems depend on many factors which include an individual's personality, pre-injury abilities, and the severity of the brain damage. The effects of the brain damage are generally greatest immediately following the injury. The newly injured brain often suffers temporary damage from swelling and a form of "bruising" called contusions. These types of damage are usually not permanent and the functions of those areas of the brain return once the swelling or bruising goes away. Therefore, it is difficult to predict accurately the extent of long-term problems in the first weeks following traumatic brain injury. Focal damage, however, may result in long-term, permanent difficulties. Improvements can occur as other areas of the brain learn to take over the function of the damaged areas. Children's brains are much more capable of this flexibility than are the brains of adults. For this reason, children who suffer brain trauma might progress better than adults with similar damage.
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