- A blow to the head e.g., being hit on the head forcefully with object or fist, having one’s head smashed against object/wall, falling and hitting head, gunshot to head.
- Shaking of the brain e.g., forceful whip-lash motion, actions that force the brain to hit the wall of the skull.
- A loss of oxygen to the brain (anoxia) e.g., airway obstruction caused by choking, strangulation, near drowning or drug reactions.
TBI can be mild to severe and cause many detrimental effects that impede the pursuit of safety and economic stability. More than 5.3 million Americans are living with traumatic brain injury-related disabilities at a cost of more than $76.5 billion (in 2010 dollars) each year. The number of people who sustain brain injuries and do not seek treatment is unknown including and especially IPV survivors. More than 3.6 million people sustain an acquired brain injury (any injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma each year). That’s one in every 60 people. Few are aware of it, but head injury kills more Americans under the age of 34 than all other causes combined!
Here are some of the symptoms:
Cognitive Symptoms:
- Decreased concentration, reduced attention span
- Difficulties with executive functioning (goal setting, self monitoring, initiating,
modifying, and/or bringing to completion) - Short-term and/or long-term memory loss
- Decreased ability to solve problems and think abstractly
- Difficulty displaying appropriate emotional/communication responses
(laugh during serious conversation, shout when everyone whispers) - Difficulty in learning new information
- Difficulty making plans, setting goals, and organizing tasks
- May appear disorganized and impulsive
- Difficulty spelling, writing, and reading
- Difficulty finding the right words and constructing sentences
- Difficulty understanding written or spoken communication
- Difficulty interpreting verbal and non-verbal language
- Decreased functioning of speech muscles (lips, tongue)
- Difficulty feeling initiative, sustaining motivation
- Depression
- Memory distortions
Behavioral Symptoms:
- Changes in behavior, personality or temperament
Increased aggression and/or anxiety - Decreased or increased inhibitions
- Quickly agitated or saddened
- Changes in emotional expression (flat, non-emotional, inappropriate or overreactions)
- Avoidance of people, family, friends
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increased irritability or impatience
Physical Symptoms:
- Hearing loss
- Headaches, neck pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in vision (blurred, sensitive, seeing double, blindness)
- Ringing or buzzing in ears
- Dizziness, difficulty balancing
- Decrease in, or loss of, smell or taste
- Decreased coordination in limbs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Increased sensitivity to noise or bright lights
- Seizures
- Weakness or numbness
Please use the following HELPS screening to see if you or someone you care about screens positive for possible TBI from IPV.
Directions: Score 1 point for every question below answered ‘Yes’.
A score of 2 or more,
particularly if the injury affects function (P), should be considered as a sign of a possible
injury that needs to be further explored with a more extensive interview and medical or
neuropsychological work-up.
____ Did your partner ever Hit you in the face or head? With what?
____ Did your partner ever slam your head into a wall or another object, or push you so that you fell and hit your head?
____ Did your partner ever shake you?
____ Did your partner ever try to strangle or choke you, or do anything else that made it hard for you to breathe?
____ Did you ever go to the Emergency room after an incident? Why?
____ Did they ask you whether you had been hit on the head or indicate that they suspected a head injury or concussion?
____ Was there ever a time when you thought you needed to go to the ER, but didn’t go because you couldn’t afford it or your partner prevented you?
____ If you did go to the ER, did you think you got all the treatment you needed?
____ Did you ever Lose consciousness or black out as a result of what your partner did to you?
____ Have you been having Problems concentrating or remembering things?
____ Are you having trouble finishing things you start to do?
____ Are people telling you that you don’t seem like yourself, or that your behavior has changed?
____ Does your partner say you have changed, and use that as an excuse to abuse you?
____ Have you been having difficulty performing your usual activities?
____ Are you experiencing mood swings that you don’t understand?
____ Has it gotten harder for you to function when you are under stress?
____ Have you been Sick or had any physical problems? What kind?
____ Do you experience any reoccurring headaches or fatigue?
____ Have you experienced any changes in your vision, hearing, or sense of smell or taste?
____ Do you find yourself dizzy or experiencing a lack of balance?
