CHEONG, DENOVE, ROWELL & BENNETT
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Injury Definitions
Brain Damage
| The brain is a highly specialized and
complex organ. The brain is divided into two hemispheres and each
hemisphere is divided into additional parts called the frontal lobe, the
parietal lobe, the occipital lobe, the temporal lobe and the cerebellum.
Each lobe has identifiable functions, but the parts of the brain are
interconnected. Therefore, damage to one part of the brain may affect the
performance of another part of the brain. Even slight damage to the brain
can have extreme consequences. |
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The brain can be damaged in a variety of ways, and depending on the
areas
damaged and the severity of the damage, it can prove relatively harmless
to fatal.
Common causes of focal or localized brain damage are physical trauma,
stroke,
aneurysm, or neurological illness. Possible causes of widespread brain
damage
include prolonged hypoxia (inadequate oxygen), poisoning, infection and
neurological illness. Brain injuries do not necessarily result in
long-term impairment
or a disability, although the location and extent of damage both have a
significant |
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effect on the likely outcome. In serious cases of brain injury,
the result can be permanent disability, including spasticity, neurocognitive
deficits, delusions, speech or movement problems, coma, and death. Brain
injury during and shortly after birth can result in quadriplegia. The
effects of impairment or disability resulting from brain injury may be
treated by a number of methods, including medication, psychotherapy,
neuropsychological rehabilitation, surgery, or physical implants
such as deep brain stimulation. |
| Brain injuries
can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound.
Injuries to the brain may be seen on MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging), CT scan (computed
axial tomography), and PET scan (positive
emission tomography). Injured brain waves can be
evaluated by EEG (electroencephalogram).
Neuropsychological testing can
also demonstrate, not only brain injury, but the
lobes of the brain that are injured. |
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For related information go to: Birth
Injuries,
Infection
and Quadriplegia.
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