TBI Education
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A plain-language guide to traumatic brain injury — what it is, what causes it, and what families need to know.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when an outside force — a fall, a crash, a blow to the head — disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBIs range from a mild concussion to a life-threatening injury requiring emergency surgery.
The CDC reports that traumatic brain injuries are linked to roughly 2.8 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths every year in the United States. Behind every one of those numbers is a family suddenly navigating a new normal.
This page is the basics. For symptom-specific information, read Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms. For caregiver tools, see our TBI resources for caregivers.
Frequently asked questions about TBI
What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is damage to the brain caused by a sudden external force — a blow, jolt, bump, or penetrating object. Unlike strokes or tumors, TBIs are caused by trauma, not disease. According to the CDC, TBIs are a leading cause of disability and death in the United States.
What causes a TBI?
The most common causes of TBI are falls (especially in older adults and young children), motor vehicle crashes, sports and recreation injuries, assaults, and combat-related blast exposure. Joseph's TBI was caused by a high-impact car accident.
How is TBI severity measured?
Doctors use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), duration of loss of consciousness, and length of post-traumatic amnesia to classify a TBI as mild (often called a concussion), moderate, or severe. Even a mild TBI can produce lasting symptoms.
What are the most common TBI symptoms?
Symptoms include headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and noise, memory problems, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. Severe TBIs can cause seizures, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, loss of coordination, and prolonged loss of consciousness.
How long does TBI recovery take?
Recovery varies widely. Mild TBIs often resolve in weeks; moderate and severe TBIs can require months or years of rehabilitation, and some effects are lifelong. Recovery is rarely linear — progress, plateau, and setbacks are all normal.
Is TBI the same as a concussion?
A concussion is a mild TBI. All concussions are TBIs, but not all TBIs are concussions. Concussions can still have serious effects, especially when they happen repeatedly.
Sources: CDC Traumatic Brain Injury Program, NINDS, Brain Injury Association of America.
Read Joseph's Journey to see what severe TBI looks like in one family's life.