What is Brain Injury?

Every year, 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury. In New York State, more than 12,000 people are hospitalized annually with a traumatic brain injury. An estimated 5.3 million Americans – a little more than 2 percent of the US population – currently live with disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injury.

An acquired brain injury, sometimes referred to as simply “brain injury”, refers to an injury to the brain that occurs after birth. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain caused by an external physical force, and falls under the more general “acquired brain injury” heading. A TBI may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, and results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment.

There are many different causes of brain injury, including, but not limited to, car crashes, falls, assaults, sports-related mishaps, stroke, aneurysm, proximity to explosions, exposure to toxic substances and domestic or child abuse. A brain injury may result in impairments in one or more areas, including cognition; speech-language communication; memory; attention and concentration; reasoning; abstract thinking; physical functions; psychosocial behavior; and information processing.

If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury, the Brain Injury Association of New York State can help. The Resources page of this website offers more information and a guide to available resources.

Download a fact sheet about TBI.

For more statistical information on brain injury, contact the Centers for Disease Control or the NYS Department of Health.