Brain Damage:Brain-damage-symptoms-causes-treatments

Brain Damage:Brain-damage-symptoms-causes-treatments

By Brian Lynn Bentley

Colorado Technical University

Brain-damage-symptoms-causes-treatments

What are some potential causes of brain damage in humans may be caused to severe trauma examples such as head injuries where you bump or bruise the brain for example , possibly a severe impact from a traffic accident. Violent high impact sports such as Boxing or football which will result in severe blows to the head. Falls and other accidents. Also other none impact kinds of damaged can be caused by poisoning or toxic exposure to substances of a harmful and dangerous nature.(Web Md, n.d.).

Some brain injuries or damage can even be caused by an infection such as Bacterial meningitis which can lead to major issues such as learning disabilities, speech problems heating loss seizure and permanent brain damage that can even result in death."(Boyarsky,I 2015)". And Brain damage can even be caused by lack of oxygen such as causes in chocking,Drowning or any activity that results in preventing oxygen from reaching the brain. Then there are strokes, Hear attacks,blood clots, tumors and potentially from some drugs. (Hicks. R, 2014).

Some of the ways we would test for all this is our ability to think straight or a cognitive tests, with a series of what seems like silly questions with obvious answers, is designed just for that reason if there is potential brain damage the doctor would get nonsense answers. As well as remembering simple things like name date or year (Webmd).

Then followed by a perception test or or how we observe things,also how well is your vision and so on. Then they will check physical symptoms such as movement of limbs or digits. Then they will check for behavioral issues such as personality changes or incorporate mood changes.(Brain,Spinal Cord and nerve disorders," 1997).

How do these changes in the brain impact human behaviors? For the examples drugs tap into the neural connections and emotional centers some drugs mimic parts of the brain and fools the brain and receptors allowing the drugs to link on and connect to the neurons but they only mimic the brain chemicals they do not trigger the neurons the way they are supposed to be triggered, causing some weird effects. Some other drugs for example cocaine can make neurons release to much of a natural neurotransmitter which results in the "High" Constant continuous use of drugs and multiple drugs can damage the brain by short circuiting the circuits. they way the neurons talk to each other and make new connections all can be damaged because the brain has mis-fired itself thanks to the actions of the drugs on the brain neural connections.The brain was taught or conditioned to expect drugs and when you n longer have the drug. Sometimes the damage the drugs do on your brain can not be fixed.("Drugs and the Brain National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)," 2014).

In damage cases like for example lack of oxygen to the brain from almost drowning or choking or even strangulation preventing oxygen from flowing to the brain for a long period of time that may be caused by stroke heart attacks and other causes that may prevent blood and oxygen from getting to the brain. Difficulty walking or doing normal things that you used to do well, It can effect your vision may even causes hallucinations sometimes blindness having trouble comprehending shapes words numbers or even people. The will have trouble even slurred speech or even understand what words mean. or using a word salad wither wrong words for right objects or made up words. Also Will have major problems functioning improper use of the executive functions another words loss of focus and concentration on a task. OR may be impulsive or unable to make choices even easy ones.(Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury Resources for TBI & SCI,n.d.).

Then there are brain damages from impacts or major injuries such as the Phineas Gage case where he had a rail road tampon that went through his skull and brain.according to Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience A “through-and-through” injury occurs if an object enters the skull, goes through the brain, and exits the skull. Through-and-through traumatic brain injuries include the effects of penetration injuries, plus additional shearing, stretching and rupture of brain tissue."(Brumback R. (1996). Oklahoma Notes: Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience. (2nd Ed.). New York: Springer.)" Which is a more complicated definition since he damage depends on which portion of the brain it hit how much of it was removed,damaged or swelled up since some brain swelling can be the cause and a result of brain damage. However all will result in loss of abilities such as memory or personality, Cognitive,Perception, Physical Symptoms, behavior, mood and even posture. even posture.(Types and Levels of Brain Injury Brain Injury Alliance of Utah).

The list of the types of brain damaged state of consciousness. A coma is some one who will not respond to any stimuli still some hope of recovery. Then there is a vegetative state which still unaware of the environment but will have movement. eyes may blink make sounds respond to reflexes and possible permanency or to a minimally conscious awareness of surroundings. The minimally conscious state is having little awareness or even self awareness, Usually the result of recovering from a coma as some functions start to slowly come back. Locked-in syndrome is a person is totally aware of themselves and surroundings and has total cognitive functions, but they are unable to move,talk or manipulate the environment om normal ways. However some have can communicate with eyes movement or eye blinking and with computer technology, It can raise the communication factors 100 fold. Locked in syndrome is normally connected to damaged brain stem but is more commonly the result of a stroke.(Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Then there is brain death where brain activity an not be detected in the brain or the brain stem and there is no recovery brain death is death.

types of treatments have been tried on individuals with brain damage a psychology expert psychologists or psychiatrist will help with or over see an entire rehabilitation process observing and making suggestions as well as prescribing drugs or alternative therapies. An occupational therapist will then help the patient with relearning things they no longer can do in the normal way. Retraining the brain or creating new neural pathways to over come the missing and damaged circuits. as well as improved skills the patient is just re-learning. A physical therapists is some one who helps you every day with therapy,w ill assist you in mobility and relearning movements as well as balance and walking. They are like an Occupational Therapists combined with a Life coach "YOU CAN DO IT! I KNOW YOU HAVE IT IN YOU!" they will work with you hand in hand towards a recovery. Many need a language and speech pathologist these are experts in communications as well alternative forms of communication, Some today are even experts in technology that is used to communicate. They Will help you relearn to speak and pronounce things if possible or train you in another form of communication. A neuro-sychologists is a expert psychologist in neural disorders He will asses the and help improve the patients performance, He will provide some form of CBT or other therapies that will help one manage behaviors or learn coping strategies, and will provide psychotherapy as needed. A social worker may be provided to get you back into the mainstream help find jobs and assisted living if needed as well help with care decisions and communicates among various agencies and experts for the best help for the individual. Then there is a Rehabilitation Nurse or a traumatic Bran injury nurse who specializes in Brain injuries and educates the patient and family about the recovery process. There is even a recreational therapist who will help relieve stress and depression by finding some leisure activities to do as well as help with time management. And last but not least is a Vocational Counselor who will help retrain you to enter a vocation and get a job again, which will reduce stress and provide an income again. All of these people and expertise in this area help with therapy. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014)." the basic definition of brain injury therapy is that it contains at the most basic , two parts. The restoration of Functions that can be recalled and restored and what can not be restored.The part of the functions that can nor be restored will result in learning how to do the things you did before the injury in different ways.One of the ways to get the brain working again is a battery of test. in the most simple form re schooling such as relearning math,reading,writing,science and re learning basic skills and manners. But on its own it is not normally enough for full recovery or partial recovery. IT also takes into account a lot of other factors and circumstances depending on what parts need work it has to be tailor designed for each patient. and th therapy will concentrate on simplest basic skills before being able to move on to the more complicated parts of brain and physical rehabilitation. The large scale systems must be relearned such as Attention, Perception and concentration or focus.(Brain Injury Resources, n.d.)

There is no universal one size fits all therapy to brain damage and mainstreaming the patient back into semi normal functions of life, It is a continuum according to Brain Injury Association of America.

There are many misconceptions about substance abuse. For example prescription drugs are safe. they aren't safe they come with warnings some of them have side effects that can mess with organs such as liver and brain.. Natural drugs aren't harmful they are from nature they can be just as harmful as a synthetic drug, and I believe it stems from people not seeing drugs like pot as chemicals but everything in the worlds is made out of chemicals that is where we get drugs from in the first place. Choosing to do a drug is a choice getting addicted to that drug is not a choice."(Carise, D . 2010).

What did you learn about the Bio-psychology of psychiatric disorders I learned our brain is amazingly simple and amazingly complicated at the same time. It works like if I had a computer that could repair that wire or if that wire in the computer was not able to be repaired my computer would grow a new wire. And if my computer has a damaged circuit it would find a way to mimic that circuit or do the same thing that circuit did in another way. Even if I took a chuck out of the computer say 1.3 of it as long as it wasn't primary components my computer if it worked like a brain would do both would make new wires and create new circuits to compensate for the missing portions. That is how your brain works. That is how my brain works. And every one else's brain works.

References

Boyarsky, I. (n.d.). Brain Infection: Read About Symptoms and Causes. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/brain_infection/article_em.htm

Brain Injury Resources. (n.d.). Brain Injury Rehabilitation - Cognitive. Retrieved from http://www.headinjury.com/rehabcognitive.html

Brain,Spinal Cord and nerve disorders. (1997). In The Merk Manual of Medical Information - home edition (pp. 443-447). Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Co.

Brumback, R. A. (1996). Neurology and clinical neuroscience. New York: Springer.

Carise, D. (2010, November 10). Nothing found for News And Views Our Perspectives Ten Popular Myths Drugs Addiction Recovery ". Retrieved from http://www.phoenixhouse.org/news-and-views/our-perspectives/ten-popular-myths-drugs-addiction-recovery/"

Drugs and the Brain | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain

Hickd, R. (2014, May 14). Brain damage: Symptoms, causes, treatments. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/brain-damage-symptoms-causes-treatments

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Traumatic brain injury Complications - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/basics/complications/con-20029302

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Traumatic brain injury Treatments and drugs - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/basics/treatment/con-20029302

Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury | Resources for TBI & SCI. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/traumatic-brain-injury-types/anoxic-brain-injury/index.html"

Types and Levels of Brain Injury | Brain Injury Alliance of Utah. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://biau.org/types-and-levels-of-brain-injury/

Web Md. (n.d.). Brain damage: Symptoms, causes, treatments. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/brain-damage-symptoms-causes-treatments