“Acquired Brain Injury” is damage to the brain from an internal or external source, including traumatic brain injury, which occurs post-birth (not congenital), is non-degenerative and non-hereditary, resulting in partial or total functional impairment in one or more areas, including but not limited to: attention, memory, reasoning, problem solving, speed of processing decision-making learning, perception, sensory impairment, speech and language, motor and physical functioning, or psychosocial behavior.

Two Types of Brain Injury

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury: caused by damage to the brain through internal factors such as lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins, pressure from a tumor, etc.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): alteration in brain function or other evidence of brain pathology caused by an external force from two primary mechanisms, (1) impact to the head (Traumatic Impact), and (2) inertial forces which affect the brain (Traumatic Inertial).

Causes of Brain Injury