Learn About TBI and the Brain
What is a brain injury? What happens to the brain when it's been injured? What does a coma do? Why does the doctor talk about dementia or ADD or ADHD? What do all those terms mean? This section is devoted to link resources that explain brain injuries, the human brain, research and clinical trials, and related.
About the Brain
Articles on How the Brain Works
Working Memory
- The Neurological Scratchpad: Looking Into Working Memory http://www.brainconnection.com/topics/?main=fa/working-memory
Many people with brain injuries deal with memory loss, especially short-term memory. This helpful article explains working memory as a component of short-term memory and current thought (as of 2000). By Kumar Narayanan for brainconnection.com.
Sites Devoted to the Brain
These sites are about the brain but include information about brain injuries and various challenges associated with brain injuries.
- Brain.com http://www.brain.com/
Brain.com is dedicated to providing information, tools, tips, and more to help improve, evaluate, and understand the health, fitness and performance potential of the brain and mind. There are lots of free online tests, articles, tips, and products available. Well worth a visit. - Brain Connection: The Brain and Learning http://www.brainconnection.com/
An entire website devoted to the brain. Learn all about the brain, learning, testing, brain and neurological disorders and learning solutions, brain teasers, an education section, a section for professionals, and more.
Brain Injuries, Recovery, Rehabilitation
Articles and Information About Brain Injuries, Recovery, Rehabilitation
The articles below are introductory in nature and provide helpful explanations and a good base of learning about brain injuries.
- Acute Brain Injury - A Guide for Family and Friends http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Neuro/BrainInjury/00TableOfContents.html
Prepared by The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, this is an excellent and helpful guide. You'll find explanations of brain functions, information about various brain injuries, coping, help for families and caregivers, an index of terms, and more. - Brain Map http://www.headinjury.com/brainmap.htm
Very helpful illustration of the regions of the brain and descriptions of functions and also of impairments from brain injury. - Dr. Diane: Brain Injury FAQ http://www.drdiane.com/faq.html
A series of questions and easy-to-understand answers all about brain injuries, including links to more information. By Dr. Diane Stoler, psychologist, author, and brain injury survivor. Helpful site. - Traumatic Brain Injury: Cognitive and Communication Disorders http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/tbrain.asp
Helpful introductory information about traumatic brain injury and its effects on cognition and communication, including information about brain injuries, assessment, treatment, research. Article also provides resources for further information. By the NIDCD, National Institute of Health. - NINDS Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/tbi_doc.htm
Helpful introductory article about TBI from NINDS with information about what is TBI, treatment options, prognosis, research, organizations, and more. - Traumatic Brain Injury FAQS http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/tbi.htm
Helpful FAQ provided by the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Covers the incidences and causes of brain injury, consequences, prevention strategies, the CDC's TBI activities, references. - Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: A Report to Congress http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/tbicongress.htm
December 1999 Special Report to Congress by the CDC explaining the incidence, causes, and financial impact of brain injuries in the United States, goals for prevention and rehab, and more. Report provided by the CDC. - Traumatic brain injury: Living well is still a possibility http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=BN00005
An article via the Mayo Clinic with the positives about living with a brain injury, learning coping, recovering, and more. Also describes various brain injuries and has photos of several common types of brain injuries. - Treatment and Rehabilitation http://www.biausa.org/Pages/Treatment%20and%20Rehab.html
A series of informative, helpful articles and downloadable brochures about treatment options, what to expect, behavior changes, speech and language, drug therapy, spasticity, and more. - Types of Brain Injury http://www.biausa.org/Pages/types.of.brain.injury.html
An excellent introductory article by the BIA explaining brain injury, life after a brain injury, impairments, the spectrum of brain injury, recovery, rehabilitation, information and advocacy, and more.
Sites Devoted to Brain Injury Information
- National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury http://www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu/
This wonderful organization's goal is to provide relevant, practical information for professionals, persons with brain injury, and family members. They also provide products and tools. - ProjectBrain.com http://www.geocities.com/project_brain/
An entire website devoted to brain injuries. The site provides lots of insight, information, a glossary of terms, helpful tools for daily life, and much more. - Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide http://www.tbiguide.com
An excellent online book all about traumatic brain injury -- indications, symptoms, understanding how the brain works, coping with common problems associated with brain injury, emotional stages of recovery, returning to work or school, and more. It is downloadable, too. By Dr. Glen Johnson, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Director of the Neuro-Recovery Head Injury Program.
TBI Terminology
- Glossary of Terms for TBI http://www.geocities.com/project_brain/glossary.htm
Extensive glossary of terms used in reference to brain injuries, head trauma. Very helpful resource by ProjectBrain.com.
Link Resources
- Brain Injury and Rehab resources http://www.brain.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=W&Product_Code=body_1058&Product_Count=0&Category_Code=brninj
Excellent resource links on brain injuries provided by brain.com.
TBI, Brain Research and Clinical Trials
- Assisted Cognition, Computer Systems to Aid People with Alzheimer's Disease http://www.cs.washington.edu/assistcog/
Memory problems can be a big part of brain injury. University of Washington is working on a fabulous project to assist people with Alzheimer's and similar memory deficit problems. - Clinical Trials http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/term=Traumatic+Brain+Injury
This link goes to U.S. Government sponsored clinicial trials for patients with brain injuries. See what the latest clinical trials are, participate.
Acquired Disorders from Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can encompass a wide or small range of related cognitive and neurological disorders, such as ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), dementia, executive function disorder, vision problems and more. Below I've provided links to a few of these for further exploration.
ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- ADD Information http://www.simonepstein.org/newsarts.htm
Articles and newsletter archives all about ADD and ADHD in children and adults. Helpful resource by the New England Center for Psychiatric Treatment and Education. - Adult ADD, an Executive Function Disorder http://healthcalls.com/Adult_ADD.htm
A short, easy-to-understand article explaining adult ADD and how it impacts a person's life. By Marc D. Schwartz, M.D., Healthcalls.com. - ADHD Living Guide http://www1.adhdlivingguide.com/
An entire website devoted to this disorder. Many helpful ideas, articles and more for children, parents, physicians, teachers, and families about ADHD. Includes information about ADD/ADHD, diagnoses, treatment options, teaching ideas for ADHD students, study aids and other tips and tools for parents, resources, and more. - CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder http://www.chadd.org/
An entire website devoted to this disorder provided by the CHADD organization. Learn all about ADD, ADHD, find local and online support, check out the latest research and more at this popular site. - Adult ADD: Structure - Practical Strategies for Coping http://www.addresources.com/guide.htm#STRATEGIES
Helpful, practical ideas for daily living with ADD, including using a timer, planning your time, structuruing your environment, and more.
Aphasia
- Aphasia... Language and the Brain http://www.haverford.edu/psych/biopsych217b/aphasia/
Helpful website all about aphasia, including an introduction, history, types of aphasia (expressive, receptive, other), language processing, aphasia therapy, web resources, and references. - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
Health information, research, grants, articles, resources, and references related to communication disorders. See the Voice, Speech, and Language area for sections on Aphasia and Adult Aphasia: Recent Research.
By the National Institute of Health. - The Aphasia Institute http://www.aphasia.on.ca/
Dedicated to reducing language barriers locally, nationally, and internationally, the Aphasia Institute provides a teaching and learning center with programs and services. Their website provides some articles about aphasia, too. - The National Aphasia Association http://www.aphasia.org/
A nonprofit organization devoted to promoting public education, research, and offering rehabilitation and support services for aphasia sufferers and their families.
Coma
- About Brain Injury: Understanding Coma http://www.waiting.com/comabasics.html
Helpful information to help others understand coma, what to expect, information about brain anatomy, glossary of terms, and much more. Provided by waiting.com.
Dementia
- Evaluation of Dementing Conditions FAQ: What is Dementia? http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com/interface/content/resources/resources_interface_frameset.html
Helpful information that explains dementia, the importance of a Neuropsychological Evaluation and what it is, what the Neuropsychologist explores, and more. Provided by Neuropsychologycentral.com.
Dyscalculia
- Dyscalculia http://library.thinkquest.org/C003703/learning/dyscalculia.php
A short introduction that explains this learning disability that affects one's math abilities. By thinkquest.org. - The Dyscalculia Syndrome http://www.dyscalculia.org/thesis.html
Very thorough information about dyscalculia, including what it is, diagnosis, treatment options, working with it, and much more. Master's Thesis by Renee M. Newman.
Dysgraphia
- Dysgraphia: Causes and Treatment http://www.dyscalculia.org/Edu563.html
Thorough discussion about this handwriting disorder. By Renee M. Newman.
Executive Brain Function Disorder
- Adult ADD, an Executive Function Disorder http://healthcalls.com/Adult_ADD.htm
A short, easy-to-understand article explaining adult ADD and how it impacts a person's life. By Marc D. Schwartz, M.D., Healthcalls.com. - Behavioral Neuropsychology: Executive Function Disorder http://nanonline.org/nandistance/mtbi/ClinNeuro/executive.html
While geared for professionals, this article provides a well done explanation and images about executive function disorder. Provided by the National Academy of Neuropsychology. - Psychopathology of Frontal Lobe Syndromes http://www.ect.org/effects/lobe.html
While geared toward professionals, this article provides a well done explanation about frontal lobe problems, how to diagnose, what the symptoms can be, how to test and check for problems, and more.
By Michael H. Thimble, F.R.C.P., F.R.C. Psych; From Seminars in Neurology, Volume 10, No. 3, September 1990.
Foreign Accent Syndrome
This rare syndrome is also sometimes called 'Foreign Language Syndrome.'
- Understanding 'Foreign Accent Syndrome' http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/po/021003.shtml
News release 3 October, 2002 from University of Oxford, UK, explaining symptoms of Foreign Accent Syndrome and their findings of small lesions in the brain as the probable cause. Included are sound samples of someone's speech before and after acquiring Foreign Accent Syndrome. They also welcome patient referrals to their Neuropsychology Centre. - Foreign Accent syndrome; a phonological decoy http://casino.cchs.usyd.edu.au/csd/mig_site/1999_vol15_2/foreign_accent_syndrome.htm
Helpful article that explains this rare disorder typically caused by stroke or head injury. References cited. Written by Zimian Huang & Linda Hand, Multicultural Interest Group.
Motor Speech Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Motor Speech Disorders http://aac.unl.edu/TBI/
This site provides complete references and abstracts for journal articles and book chapter references related to traumatic brain injury and motor speech disorders. Also included are valuable and helpful links and contact information to many assistive devices. Areas covered are assessment, treatment, speech characteristics, instruments, links, and more. Very helpful resource by Melanie M. Richter, with help from Natasha Hall and Laura Przymus.
Commercial Products and Information
- InjuryResources.com http://www.injuryresources.com
For patients and professionals, this site has detailed information about whiplash and the brain, brain injuries, and more.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Resources - http://tbiresources.com/learn/