About Brain Injury
If you've got questions then you've come to the right place.
What is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?
You may have heard a doctor refer to acquired brain injury (ABI). This means that the person concerned has suffered sudden damage to the brain caused by an incident of some sort.
An acquired brain injury is defined as having occurred after birth and is not degenerative. Common causes of ABI are:
- stroke
- head injury (e.g.falls, assaults, road traffic accidents)
- tumour
- infection, such as encephalitis and meningitis.
How does ABI affect people?
ABI can have a devastating effect on a person’s physical and mental capabilities and can totally disrupt family life and relationships with friends.
Problems with memory loss, concentration, balance, speech and language including aphasia, personality, behaviour and organisational skills can place tremendous strain on family members and carers who are struggling to cope with the day to day challenges of helping.
Sometimes the person with an ABI is forced to give up work and favourite sports, activities or hobbies, which can make things very difficult for everyone concerned.
Looking for more information?
Check out the Headway UK site with resources such as:
- About the brain
- About traumatic brain injury
- Other forms of acquired brain injury
- Effects of brain injury
- Rehabilitation and continuing care
- Find an approved care provider
- Caring for someone with a brain injury
- Practical issues
- Supporting you
- Legal advice
- Information library
- Publications
- Common brain injury terms
- Useful organisations
“I’ve been coming along for about a year now. I like the social interaction with other group members playing dominoes and art and crafts. we have outings every month which are good. By going to headway meetings it helps me with my speech and confidence building and I feel a lot happier within myself.”
Sheryl