A brain injury patient will often receive numerous diagnostic test to help determine the level of damage that has occurred. Below the most common diagnostic tests are identified and explained to help make the diagnostic period easier to understand.
Angiogram - This test looks at the blood vessels in the brain.
CT/CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography - The CT scan is typically the first diagnostic test a brain injury patient will receive and is, by definition, a specific type of x-ray, designed to measure the brain's density, that generates an image of the brain.
X-Ray - The X-Ray is used to determine if bones, particularly the skull, are broken or fractured.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - The MRI produces a detailed image of the brain and other internal organs using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.
Electrocardiogram (EKG) - The EKG is used to look at the heart's function and electrical activity.
Neuroimaging - These tests, including the SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography), the PET (position emission tomography), and the MRI, visually show the brain's activity during various tasks.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) - Used to detect the presence of seizures or decreased brain activity, the EEG measures the brain's electrical activity that is produced by nerve cell activity.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Brain Anatomy Overview
The brain is one of the most complex structures in the human body and, therefore, when the brain is injured many strange and serious symptoms may occur. By looking at basic brain anatomy and the functions that each area of the brain control, the symptoms resulting from the brain injury may be explained and understood. Although an injury may have occurred in a specific area, most brain injuries impact multiple areas of the brain. The main regions of the brain are the cerebellum, the brain stem, and the cerebrum.
Cerebellum: The cerebellum is located in the hindbrain and controls coordination, voluntary movement and balance. If injured, the cerebellum may produce symptoms including tremors, involuntary eye movements, poor muscle coordination (also known as ataxia), slurred speech, vertigo, and the inability to make quick movements or to grab objects. Injury to this area of the brain makes basic tasks very difficult such as walking, eating or talking.
Brainstem: The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls necessary survival functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, attention, concentration and the ability to be awake and alert. The brain's twelve cranial nerves are based in the brain stem and run throughout the brain. Any possible injury to the brainstem must be treated by a doctor immediately to reduce risk of coma, long term symptoms, or even death. Less severe symptoms resulting from a brainstem injury include insomnia, vertigo, balance and movement problems, perception difficulties, dysphaia, or difficulty breathing.
Frontal Lobe: The frontal lobe is located in the front section of the brain and controls thought processes such as organization, planning, problem solving, selective attention, flexible thinking, mood changes, sequencing, focusing, language expression (also known as Broca's Aphasia when injured) and even personality (located in the prefrontal cortex to be specific).
Occipital Lobe: The occipital lobe is located at the back of the head and is responsible for processing visual information. Damage to this area most commonly results in visual disturbances such as hallucinations, reading and writing difficulties, and a difficulty with identifying colors, words, movements and objects.
Parietal Lobes: The parietal lobes, also home to the primary sensory cortex, are located in close to the back and top of the skull and control functions such as sensation and the judgement of various sensations. Damage to the right parietal lobe results in poor navigational skills and the ability to recognize locations and damage to the left parietal lobe results in a diminished ability to comprehend spoken and written languages.
Temporal Lobes: The temporal lobes are located on each side of the brain near the ears and control functions such as the absorption of new information, short-term memory, verbal memory or visual memory. Damage to these lobes may result in symptoms that include prosopagnosia (or the inability to recognize faces), short-term memory loss, increased aggression, long-term memory loss and a difficulty with categorization and identification.
Cerebellum: The cerebellum is located in the hindbrain and controls coordination, voluntary movement and balance. If injured, the cerebellum may produce symptoms including tremors, involuntary eye movements, poor muscle coordination (also known as ataxia), slurred speech, vertigo, and the inability to make quick movements or to grab objects. Injury to this area of the brain makes basic tasks very difficult such as walking, eating or talking.
Brainstem: The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls necessary survival functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, attention, concentration and the ability to be awake and alert. The brain's twelve cranial nerves are based in the brain stem and run throughout the brain. Any possible injury to the brainstem must be treated by a doctor immediately to reduce risk of coma, long term symptoms, or even death. Less severe symptoms resulting from a brainstem injury include insomnia, vertigo, balance and movement problems, perception difficulties, dysphaia, or difficulty breathing.
Frontal Lobe: The frontal lobe is located in the front section of the brain and controls thought processes such as organization, planning, problem solving, selective attention, flexible thinking, mood changes, sequencing, focusing, language expression (also known as Broca's Aphasia when injured) and even personality (located in the prefrontal cortex to be specific).
Occipital Lobe: The occipital lobe is located at the back of the head and is responsible for processing visual information. Damage to this area most commonly results in visual disturbances such as hallucinations, reading and writing difficulties, and a difficulty with identifying colors, words, movements and objects.
Parietal Lobes: The parietal lobes, also home to the primary sensory cortex, are located in close to the back and top of the skull and control functions such as sensation and the judgement of various sensations. Damage to the right parietal lobe results in poor navigational skills and the ability to recognize locations and damage to the left parietal lobe results in a diminished ability to comprehend spoken and written languages.
Temporal Lobes: The temporal lobes are located on each side of the brain near the ears and control functions such as the absorption of new information, short-term memory, verbal memory or visual memory. Damage to these lobes may result in symptoms that include prosopagnosia (or the inability to recognize faces), short-term memory loss, increased aggression, long-term memory loss and a difficulty with categorization and identification.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Welcome to the Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Blog!
As a traumatic brain injury researcher, survivor, and college intern, I recognize the struggles that TBI patients face when searching for the right treatment and path to recovery. This search for the right doctor, treatment, medication, and information adds unnecessary stress and exhaustion to the life of a brain injury patient and this blog has been created to ease that stress.
This blog includes information about alternative and conventional treatment options, patient resources such as support groups and additional information, TBI news, and suggestions from your fellow TBI survivors.
In my opinion, I believe the most frustrating aspect of a brain injury is that this condition is invisible to all others. The memory loss, pain, difficulty with concentration, and all other symptoms are not visible to the world like a broken arm. The many symptoms transform simple daily tasks into overwhelming burdens, but this reality is only visible to those suffering from brain injury. This challenge will, however, diminish with time and with the help of treatments that can be used to combat these symptoms. The symptoms are not permanent, so maintain optimism and strength.
I hope this blog will help to point you in the direction of recovery and can assist you in your search for an effective treatment.
This blog includes information about alternative and conventional treatment options, patient resources such as support groups and additional information, TBI news, and suggestions from your fellow TBI survivors.
In my opinion, I believe the most frustrating aspect of a brain injury is that this condition is invisible to all others. The memory loss, pain, difficulty with concentration, and all other symptoms are not visible to the world like a broken arm. The many symptoms transform simple daily tasks into overwhelming burdens, but this reality is only visible to those suffering from brain injury. This challenge will, however, diminish with time and with the help of treatments that can be used to combat these symptoms. The symptoms are not permanent, so maintain optimism and strength.
I hope this blog will help to point you in the direction of recovery and can assist you in your search for an effective treatment.
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