Sleep dysfunction and fatigue
Evaluation of posttraumatic fatigue Introduction • Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms after brain injury (BI); reported rate of fatigue varies. • One study reported fatigue in…
Agitation and restlessness
Agitation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a clinical manifestation of the natural recovery process and is often associated with posttraumatic amnesia (PTA). Most definitions denote an excess of behaviors…
Emotional dyscontrol
Emotional dyscontrol encompasses a spectrum of disorders involving aberrant regulation of emotion on a moment-to-moment basis. These conditions typically involve unpredictable and disproportionately intense (relative to the inciting stimulus) emotional…
Neurosensory dysfunction
Neurosensory disorders after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are a complex process, and the pathophysiology is partially understood. TBI can affect all the senses, including hearing, smell, vision, and balance. Hearing…
Cognitive functioning after traumatic brain injury
Cognitive impairments are frequently observed after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can lead to short-term and long-term disability and poor vocational outcomes. Given the implications of cognitive impairments on postinjury…
Speech and language
This chapter focuses on the impairments to speech and language that occur after brain injury. These impairments can be grouped into four main categories: • Aphasia • Dysarthria • Apraxia…
Dysphagia and aspiration
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to problems with cognition, behavior, and physical functions, with each domain playing a crucial role in swallowing. Normal control of swallowing requires appropriate…
Critical care management in traumatic brain injury
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 150 individuals die of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) daily in the United States. Advancements in medical and surgical…
Pressure injuries, bed rest, and deconditioning
Pressure injuries (PIs) and deconditioning are complications of bed rest, which can occur after brain injury. These complications increase morbidity and mortality and have a negative impact on functional outcome…
Motor control
Motor control Motor control—the process by which the central nervous system produces purposeful, coordinated movements of the body—can be disrupted in a variety of ways by acquired brain injury: •…
