Brain damage—also referred to as brain injury—is defined as deterioration, atrophy or complete dissolution of brain cells. The brain is responsible for controlling our every action, emotion, and reaction. It controls our ability to learn, understand, comprehend and deduce. It’s responsible for our ability to see, hear, smell, taste and perceive touch. The human brain is the most monumental influence for every aspect of every skill or ability that human beings should be capable of—from basic instinctual concepts such as breathing, to understanding abstract ideas, such as empathy. A brain injury of any form interrupts the brain’s power to perform to the fullest of its capabilities. A mild brain injury may compromise the brain’s regulated electrical activity, resulting in seizures large or small. A massive brain injury may remove all ability of the brain to perform any function at all, even breathing. Alternatively, sometimes a small portion of the brain is injured, which can result in a very specific loss of function of that area.
What Can Cause a Brain Injury?
There are many causes and conditions that can result in a brain injury. There are two basic types of harm to the brain: Traumatic, and acquired. A traumatic injury is as it sounds—at some point during or after birth, the patient suffered a traumatic head injury, which resulted in brain damage. Some examples of traumatic brain injuries are concussions, contusions (bruise or bleeding on the brain), or penetration of an object (i.e., knife, bullet) into the brain.
Alternatively, an acquired brain injury is used to describe brain damage that has occurred after birth, and because of disease, anoxia (no oxygen to the brain), hypoxia (some, but not nearly enough oxygen to the brain), stroke or tumors.
What Now?
If you or someone you know suffers from any type of brain injury, find out the cause. Was this brain damage traumatic or acquired? Hypoxic-Anoxic Injury (HAI) is unfortunately not unheard of during childbirth. This can be the result of medical malpractice or negligence, including improper resuscitation techniques, waiting too long to perform a cesarean section, or failure to respond properly to maternal or fetal bleeding or distress. However, HAI and other brain injuries can also occur during or at birth, without fault of the medical community, especially if the mother used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, or developed gestational diabetes during her pregnancy. Living with and supporting someone with any type of brain injury can be an emotionally, financially and spiritually draining affair. Depending on the type, cause and severity of the brain injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Read the original: What Exactly is a Brain Injury?
