More
information about Headway and acquired brain injury
What is an
acquired brain injury?
Headway defines brain injury as:
Acquired brain injury - any brain injury that has occurred since birth. There are
many possible causes, including stroke, haemorrhage, infection,
hypoxic/anoxic brain injury and medical
interventions
Traumatic
Brain injury - damage to the brain through the head receiving a severe blow or jolt, for example in an
accident, fall or
assault
What sort of
accident
?
How
many are affected?
In 1999 135,000 people
in the UK were suffering from the long term effects of severe brain
damage and this number is growing.
Every year 1,000,000
people attend hospital with a brain injury as a result of an
accident.
Of
these
160,000
will suffer minor or moderate brain damage which may leave them with
some life-long problems
Over 11,000 will
suffer severe brain damage, most of whom will not be able to return
to their former employment and many of whom will need full time care
for the rest of their lives.
What
are the effects of severe brain injury?
Any of the following
disabilities and problems can result from severe brain damage and
may last for life....
-
Personality change
-
Impaired memory
-
Impaired speech
-
Impaired
understanding
-
Impaired mobility
-
Impaired judgement
-
Impaired sight
-
Inability to
concentrate
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Why
is the number growing?
Advances in medical
technology and surgical skills, greater car safety, and the wearing
of seat belts mean that many people who would otherwise have been
killed now survive - but often with a brain injury.
And
once they survive, brain injured people will usually live a normal
life span so the numbers are added to every year.
What
does Headway do about it?
By providing support
and helpline services and a day centre, Headway Tunbridge Wells & District
aims....
-
to give support,
information and guidance to brain injured people and their
families;
-
to provide social,
leisure and therapeutic activities for brain injured people to
help them achieve the highest possible level of functioning and
quality of life;
-
to provide respite
for the families and carers;
-
to hold meetings
where experiences and understanding of brain injury can be shared;
-
to increase public
awareness of the effects of brain injury and the steps that may be
taken to prevent it.
How can I help?
click here
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