Brain Injury - The Basics

Acquired Brain Injury - Why Acquired?

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is the term given to any injury to the brain sustained during the course of a person's life. Our definition of ABI is "a non-progressive acquired injury to the brain with sudden onset".This definition excludes brain damage which happens at birth or as a result of a condition which is degenerative such as MS, Motor Neuron Disease etc.

What Causes Acquired Brain Injury?

It can occur as a result of :

• Trauma e.g. a traffic or workplace accident, a fall, an assault or a sports injury.
• The effects on surrounding brain tissue that may result from a stroke, brain haemorrhage or brain surgery.
• A viral infection occurring in the brain e.g. encephalitis.
• Lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia)

Who does it affect?

Brain Injury occurs across all sections of the community, and can happen at any time during a person's life.

How does a brain injury affect someone?

Every brain injury is unique which means that symptoms can vary widely according to the extent and locality of the damage to brain tissue. Acquired brain injury is often referred to as the hidden disability because its long term problems are often in the areas of thinking and behaviour and are not as easy to see and recognise as many physical disabilities.

Refer to our factsheet on Consequences of Acquired Brain Injury for a range of possible after effects.

What is it like to have a brain injury?

Take a look at our video series "Living with Brain Injury"

Also, read the Harbour Map, a document written by an independent self support group of people with brain injury (to view this document, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Statistics

Currently, there are no official statistics for the number of people living in Ireland with a brain injury. By studying data from a number of other countries and basing it on the Irish population, we estimate that between 9,000 and 11,000 people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually in Ireland, with a further 7,000 being diagnosed with a stroke.

Additionally, we estimate that there are up to 30,000 people in living in Ireland between the ages of 16-65 with long term problems following brain trauma. Brain injury is the foremost cause of death and disability in young people. Those that are between 15-29 years of age are three times more likely to sustain a brain injury than any other group.

For more information, refer to our factsheet "What is Acquired Brain Injury?"