Traumatic Brain Injury FAQ

Information courtesy of the Brain Trauma Foundation in New York City

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma, often a blow or jolt to the head, causes damage to the brain. The severity of TBI can range from mild (a concussion) to severe (coma). A concussion may cause temporary confusion and headache, while a severe TBI can be fatal. Levels of brain trauma are characterized by the following:

What are the Levels of TBI?
Mild (Concussion): A person with a mild TBI, which is also called a concussion, may remain conscious or may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes or perhaps not at all. Typical symptoms can include confusion, memory difficulties, headache and behavioral problems.

Moderate: A person with a moderate TBI is often lethargic with their eyes open to stimulation and may lose consciousness for 20 minutes to six hours. He/she may experience some brain swelling or bleeding causing sleepiness, but is still able to be aroused.

Severe (Coma): A person with a severe TBI is typically in a coma state for more than six hours.

A TBI does not include a stroke, an infection in the brain or a brain tumor.

What is brain trauma?

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – head injury and brain trauma are synonymous terms, meaning any brain injury produced by an external force.

Main causes – car crashes, falls, sports and assaults. This is different from stroke, infection, cancer or other processes that can produce brain “injuries.”


What are the severity levels of TBI?

• Mild – Awake; eyes open. Also called a concussion. Symptoms can include confusion, memory, and attention difficulties, headache, and behavioral problems.
• Moderate – Lethargic; eyes open to stimulation. Some brain swelling or bleeding causing sleepiness, but still arousal.
• Severe – Coma; eyes do not open, even with stimulation. Associated with 20-50% death rate or severe disabilities. It is in this category that many lives can be saved by application of BTF’s TBI Guidelines.