Creating a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education, advocacy, and support.

Brain Injury Education

Many different terms are used interchangeably for brain injury; these may include acquired brain injury (ABI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), head injury, concussion, and shaken baby syndrome, to name just a few.

All brain injuries are acquired one way or the other but there are two major classifications: traumatic and non-traumatic. A traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature, that may result in an impairment of cognitive abilities, physical functioning, and/or disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. It may be caused by a blow to the head that is severe enough to cause bruising, bleeding, swelling, or shearing. Common causes of traumatic brain injury include falls, motor vehicle accidents, and assaults. Non-traumatic brain injuries, often referred to as acquired brain injuries, result from internal causes such as strokes, brain tumors, anoxia, and drug abuse.

Brain injury is a complex and often misunderstood disability. At times there can be obvious sensory-motor limitations; at other times the individual may exhibit unusual reasoning patterns or social behavior. There are some instances in which a person may appear completely unimpaired, but have subtle cognitive difficulties not present before the injury.

Brain injuries are frequently referred to as mild, moderate, or severe. This refers to the injury itself and not to the severity of the impairments that may result. Some individuals who incur severe injuries experience good recovery, while others who have a "mild" injury may endure significant problems for the rest of their lives.

The Brain Injury Association of Virginia has a vast library of information on brain injury, its resulting consequences, and a variety of related topics. To request more information from BIAV, click here to complete our Resource Request Form.