Acquired Brain Injury
Acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain that occurs after
birth and is not hereditary. The acquired brain injury occurs at
the cellular level within the brain, affecting cells throughout
the entire brain. An acquired brain injury may cause mild to severe
impairments in one or multiple areas; functions affected by acquired
brain injury include cognition, communication, memory, attention,
reasoning, physical functions, psychosocial behavior and information
processing.
Types of acquired brain injury involve the depletion or cessation
of oxygen to the brain. There are different forms of acquired brain
injury, depending upon the amount of oxygen the brain receives.
The absence of oxygen (anoxic acquired brain injury) can be anemic
in nature, with the blood incapable of carrying sufficient oxygen,
while toxic anoxic acquired brain injury occurs when toxins or metabolites
block oxygen in the blood from being used. A hypoxic acquired brain
injury is the result of the brain receiving some, but not enough,
oxygen. This type of acquired brain injury occurs when the brain’s
blood supply drops due to insufficient blood flow or blood pressure.
Acquired brain injury has a number of causes, including airway
obstruction, choking, and electrical shock. Certain diseases can
trigger acquired brain injury, such as AIDS, brain tumors, hypo/hyperglycemia,
and seizure disorders. Exposure to toxins can also trigger acquired
brain injury, with illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, lead/carbon
monoxide poisoning, some chemotherapy, and toxic chemicals causing
acquired brain injury in many individuals.
Because the damages are so widespread, the effects of an acquired
brain injury can be devastating, affecting every aspect of a victim’s
life. Rehabilitation and recovery from acquired brain injury is
usually a slow, involved process, and some patients will never recover
fully from an acquired brain injury. Treatment is often expensive,
with the medical bills, rehabilitation programs, and medications
to combat acquired brain injury often reaching into the hundreds
of thousands of dollars. In many cases, the families of an acquired
brain injury victim are also deeply affected by loss of income and
emotional and mental trauma.
Acquired brain injury victims should receive the best possible
treatment to assure the highest chance of recovery. An acquired
brain injury occurred through the fault or negligence of another
party, then the victim of the acquired brain injury or their loved
ones may be entitled to recover costs associate with treatment.
Acquired brain injury victims may also be eligible to collect non-economic
damages for pain and suffering and mental anguish. Attorneys familiar
with acquired brain injury litigation may be able to help you and
your loved ones decide the most appropriate course of action.
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