Acquired Brain Injury
This can have a profound impact on the lives of those who suffer them, as well as their families and those close to them. Each injury effects everyone differently, making them complicated and sometimes difficult to treat.
Unlike brain damage caused at or before birth, an acquired brain injury is the result of an accident obtained in day-to-day life, rather than a birth complication.
The Different types of Brain Injury: Ireland
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury is the most common form of acquired brain injury. Caused by an external impact to the head, the damage to the skull and brain can affect a person’s social behaviour, memory and physical abilities.
Traumatic brain injury in Ireland is often caused by road accidents, descents from great heights along with general trips and falls. The affects of these injuries can vary depending on the severity of the impact and which part of the brain is damaged.
Non-Traumatic Brain Injury
Unlike traumatic brain injuries, non-traumatic brain injuries are caused within the brain, as opposed to an external object penetrating or striking the head. Illnesses and infections are a main cause of this kind of injury, such as encephalitis, a blood clot, an aneurism or a haemorrhage.
Many illnesses are associated with non-traumatic brain injury; meningitis, strokes and brain tumours can all cause injuries within the brain. Some surgical procedures can also damage the brain if they’re not executed correctly.
The Issue with Brain Tissue
When brain tissue is damaged, the cells don’t regenerate like cells in other parts of the body. This means that once damaged, the brain cannot repair itself. The damage from an acquired brain injury can cause emotional, cognitive and physical changes in a person and learning to cope with a sudden change in ability in any of these areas is extremely difficult.
Altered behaviour, memory loss and inability to complete skills learnt before the brain injury are common and instead of cell regeneration, the brain has to learn new ways, or paths, within itself to complete the same tasks as it did before the injury.
Rehabilitation is used to help patients explore these new paths. This is an on-going process, one that can be undertaken for a long period of time, sometimes lifelong and is dependent on the severity of the injury. Most commonly, individual rehabilitation sessions are used to help individuals overcome daily difficulties.
This is perhaps one of the biggest hurdles when living with an acquired brain injury and takes a huge amount of patience and persistence. However, there are dedicated groups and organisations in Ireland who can offer support and education.
Acquired Brain Injury in Ireland : The Infographic
We’ve created the below infographic to help explain acquired brain injury, the effects it can have, the treatments available and where you can find further support in Ireland.
Our sincere thanks go out to the team at Acquired Brain Injury Ireland who helped us create this infographic. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to create what we hope is a comprehensive and informative visual guide for people in Ireland who have encountered acquired brain injury in some form.
Acquired Brain Injury Support in Ireland
Acquired brain injury in Ireland is a growing issue, with 13,000 people acquiring a brain injury each year in Ireland. Although limited, Ireland is home to organisations that can offer support, education and research for people suffering with an acquired brain injury. You can find out more about the different services and support they offer below:
- Acquired Brain Injury Ireland
Acquired Brain Injury Irelands’ mission is to enable people with an Acquired Brain Injury to live an independent life in the community by providing and maintaining a supportive living environment.
Concentrating on a person-focused, tailor made programme, they offer rehabilitation that works to maximise a person’s abilities, whatever their individual requirements. They are also pioneers for awareness and information on acquired Brain Injury in Ireland, providing information for those affected by brain injury as well as the wider public. They also provide assisted and transitional living, case management and community rehabilitation. Find out more about what they can offer on their website.
- Bri Ireland
Meaning strength and understanding in Irish, Bri aim to promote self-support, medical care, rehabilitation, general public awareness about brain injury and brain injury prevention.
As part of their service, they offer phone and email support as well as support groups around Ireland. As a strong force of advocacy and understanding surrounding acquired brain injury, Bri are also the developers of the brain injury identity card, a card for users to show members of the public when they’re having difficulties communicating.
- Headway
Headway offers a range of services to those suffering with acquired brain injury, including support for their family members. They’re also able to offer training and educational support for sufferers hoping to get back into work or education.
They specialise in day rehabilitation, offering group and individual work to help get the most of out their sessions. Find out more about how they can help you on their website.
Acquired Brain injury Compensation Ireland
Brain injuries don’t only have a devastating effect socially, but they can also have a financial impact on a sufferer and their family. Preparing a home to support someone with an acquired brain injury can be expensive, along with any non-funded treatments and travel.
If your brain injury wasn’t your fault, and caused by negligence or an accident of any kind you could claim brain injury compensation.
Get in touch with one of our understanding solicitors today and find out how we can help. We understand how delicate brain injury is and will do our best to provide you with the best outcome. You can learn more about our processes and our solicitors here, and our personal injury* help page has more information on how we can help.
Don’t delay, please call us now on +35312645555 or complete our Online Enquiry and we’ll be delighted to help you.
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.
