An acquired brain injury (ABI) is a brain injury that occurred after a person’s birth. The brain can be injured as a result of:
- traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- stroke
- brain tumour
- poisoning
- infection and disease
- near-drowning or another anoxic episodes
- alcohol and drug abuse.
Changes after an ABI
People can experience the following changes after acquiring a brain injury:
- medical difficulties (epilepsy)
- sensory changes (impaired vision, touch, smell)
- physical impairment (weakness, tremor, spasticity)
- learning and thinking impairments (forgetfulness, poor attention)
- behaviour and personality changes (short temper, lethargy, flatness/depression)
- communication difficulties (slow or slurred speech, word-finding challenges, trouble contributing to or following conversations).
Recovery from an ABI
Recovery from a brain injury differs from person to person and depends on the type of brain injury, where the brain was injured and the extent of the injury. Impairments can be temporary or permanent. People may also find that their ABI-related issues change over time.
Getting used to ABI-related changes means experiencing an adjustment period, both physically and emotionally, and will affect not only the patient but their support network.
How ABI is different to intellectual disability
ABI and intellectual disability are different conditions. People with ABI usually retain their intellectual abilities but have difficulty with specific thinking and speaking skills. The patient’s life before the injury is markedly different to post-injury which represents an experience of loss for the patient.