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Traumatic Brain Injury

Partners Health Management is allocated state funding to provide TBI-specific services and supports to individuals with a TBI living in its 15 counties. For information on available services, call 1-888-235-HOPE (4673).

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow to the head or other types of blunt force trauma that disrupts the function of the brain. The most common causes of TBI are slips and falls, motor vehicle accidents, a football tackle or shaken baby.

A traumatic brain injury can happen to anyone.

Risks

  • Falling and hitting your head
  • Automobile, bicycle, four-wheeler and motorcycle accidents
  • Assault or abuse
  • Sports injury
  • Concussion
  • Workplace accident
  • Struck by an object
  • Bullet or blast injury
  • Served in a war zone If you or someone you know has experienced an event that could have caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and have any of the following symptoms associated with TBI, it is important to be screened by a health care professional.

Traumatic Brain Injuries can be treated.

Symptoms (including but not limited to)

Health Related

  • Headaches that keep coming back
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Nausea and/or dizziness
  • Unusually tired and drowsy
  • Bothered by smells, light or sounds
  • Ringing in ears
  • Blurry vision or changes in vision
  • Sleep disturbances

Emotional and Behavioral

  • Irritable, anxious, restless
  • Sad or depressed
  • Wants to be alone or away from people
  • Takes risks without thinking first
  • Unable to initiate tasks

Cognitive

  • Trouble remembering things
  • Reacts or thinks slowly
  • Trouble learning new things
  • Trouble expressing thoughts
  • Difficulty paying attention and problem solving

TBI Services

Partners Health Management has allocated state funding to provide TBI-specific services and supports to individuals with a TBI living in its 15 counties. For information on available services, call 1-888-235-4673.

Local Support groups for TBI

  • Hickory Brain Injury Support Group: last Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 311 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601; contact Travis Glass at travis@crossroadscounseling.org, 828-781-0778, Facebook.com/HickoryBISG
  • Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland County support group: third Tuesday or each month from 6 to 7 p.m. at ComServ, 1541 Delta Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052; contact Patricia Haithcox at phaithcox@comserve.org, 704-736-5307 or Shanda Daniels at 704-772-4291