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Illness & disability
Brain injury
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, happens when someone’s head is suddenly hit or shaken really hard, such as during a car accident, a fall on the playground, or an accident while skiing. TBI does not include brain injuries that happen before someone is born or during birth. A TBI can change how someone acts, moves, thinks, and learns.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of TBIs bad enough to send someone to the hospital. Did you know that the rate of TBIs due to motor vehicle accidents is highest among teens 15- to 19-years-old?
Many people with TBIs have to cope with different disabilities. Some of the problems TBI can cause are:
- A headache that does not go away
- Feeling tired all of the time
- Paralysis, or the inability to move on one or both sides of the body
- Problems speaking or understanding words
- Trouble remembering things
- Problems paying attention
- Trouble reading and writing
- Getting lost or easily confused
- Trouble making decisions
- Feeling sad or angry for no reason
- Seizures
- Problems with seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, or smelling
If you have a TBI, that doesn’t mean you will have all of these issues. Each person with a TBI is different. It depends on how bad the injury is, what part of the brain is hurt, and how well the recovery goes. For young people, other parts of the brain may be able to learn the job of the damaged part of the brain. This means you could be able to regain your abilities much better than an adult could!
If your injury is bad, you may have to stay in the hospital for a while and then go through rehabilitation for a long time. During all of this, your recovery team will likely include more than just doctors and nurses. Your team may include a physical therapist, occupational therapist, counselor, and a speech therapist. It may also include special education teachers when you are ready to go back to school.
Going back to school
After a TBI, you may feel different and also may need different things from the people around you. You may need your friends to walk slower. Or you may need them to remind you about plans you make. Your parents and the school may need to make an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Your IEP will make sure you get what you need to learn and have success in school. For instance, you might need your class set up in a certain way. You might need extra time for a test. Or you might need somebody to help you get around. Remember that it is okay to tell your parents, teachers, and friends how you feel and what they can do to help you.
Read more about Individualized Education Programs.
Will I still be able to be a mother someday?
Yes, girls with TBI can still be mothers when they grow up. Talk to your doctor about this if you have questions.
More information about brain injuries for teens.
Content last updated October 21, 2009
