FACTS AND OPINIONS

• The Dynamic Relationship Between Stress and Wellness
• Basics of Traumatic Brain Injury & this author's residual problems
• Obesity surgery cures more than cosmetic problems

BASICS of TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SUSTAINED

Definition: Traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain caused by an external force, that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychological maladjustment. A traumatic brain injury affects a person not only at a discrete point in time, but throughout that person’s lifetime.

According to the CDC and the National Institutes of Health

The leading causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes and falls (mostly among the elderly) (Adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National Head Injury Foundation, 2/22/86 ).

MY BRAIN STEM INJURY BEHAVIOR DYSFUNTIONS

Frontal lobe

• Initiation
• Problem-solving
• Judgement
• Inhibition of behavior
• Planning/anticipation
• Self-monitoring
• Motor planning
• Personality/emotions
• Awareness of abilities/limitations
• Organization
• Attention/concentration
• Mental flexibility

Temporal Lobe

• Memory
• Coordination
• Understanding language (Receptive language)
• Organization and sequencing

Occipital Lobe

• Vision

Parietal Lobe

• Spatial perception
• Visional perception

Cerebellum

• Balance
• Coordination
• Skilled Motor Activity

Brain Stem

• Breathing
• Attention/Concentration
• Arousal/consciousness
• Sleep/wake functions

from: TBI BASICS presented by B.A.Beckwith, M.A., C.C.C.-SLP at: Brain Injury Alliance of Michigan Conference, 10/16/03