Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain injury caused by an outside force. A blow to the head, a bump, or jolt to the head or body can cause it, although not all bumps or jolts to the head cause a TBI. An object entering the brain can also cause a TBI. TBIs are sometimes called brain injuries or head injuries. TBIs can be serious injuries that negatively affect how the brain works and can make everyday tasks more difficult.

In 2023, TBIs were involved in nearly 13,300 emergency department visits, over 4,260 non-fatal hospitalizations, and about 1,500 deaths occurred among Wisconsin residents.

Know the signs and find help

A TBI does not need to be severe to impact day-to-day living. Even concussions or a mild TBI can affect how you think, act, or even feel. It is important to get medical treatment if you think you have a TBI, even if you don’t think it is severe.

Mild TBI or concussion symptoms

• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Dizziness
• Trouble remembering or thinking clearly
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Mild TBI and Concussion webpage for a complete list of symptoms. These symptoms may not appear right away. You might start to feel these symptoms weeks after you are injured.

Moderate or severe TBI symptoms

• Trouble with cognitive tasks like thinking, learning, and communicating.
• Trouble remembering.
• Changes or problems with physical movement, balance, and hearing or seeing.
• Emotional changes like anger, anxiety, sadness, or depression.
• Personality changes.

Many of these symptoms can also occur with a mild TBI or concussion. However, severe TBI symptoms may be more intense and last much longer, even for life. Visit the CDC’s About Potential Effects of a Moderate or Severe TBI webpage to learn more.

Finding support after a TBI

The impacts of TBI can last for a long time after the initial injury. Because TBIs damage the brain, they can impact your ability to effectively work or attend school. The following organizations are available to offer resources and support after a TBI:

• Learn about TBI care facilities in Wisconsin by reviewing the DHS Consumer Guide.
• Support groups and resources can be found on the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin (BIAW) website.
• Information is available for those who have a brain injury or works with those with a brain injury on the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) website.
• Assistance and advise for TBI survivors and their families is available on the Brain Injury Recovery Network website.
• TBI survivors can enroll in a resource and information services program by visiting the Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin (BIRCofWI) website.

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Preventing a TBI

While a TBI is serious, simple steps during everyday activities like driving, playing sports, and exercising can help you reduce your risk. Other ways to prevent TBIs include:

• Buckle your seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Wear a helmet, or appropriate headgear, when you or your children:
  • Ride a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile scooter, or use an all-terrain vehicle
  • Play a contact sport, such as football ice hockey, or boxing
  • Use in-line skates or ride a skateboard
  • Play baseball or softball
  • Ride a horse
  • Ski or snowboard

Avoiding falls

Unintentional falls are a leading cause of TBIs, so knowing how to avoid them is important. Below are prevention tips for older adults and young children—the two populations most vulnerable to falls.

Ways older adults can protect themselves from falls

• Talk to your doctor about your risk for falling. Ask what specific things you can do to reduce your risk for a fall.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. Your list should include prescription medicines, over-the counter medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins.
• Have your eyes checked at least once a year. Be sure to update your eyeglasses or contact lenses, if needed.
• Do strength and balance exercises to make your legs stronger and improve your balance.
• Make your home safer. For example, remove rugs or other tripping hazards.

Ways parents can protect their younger children

• Install window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.
• Make sure your child’s playground has soft material under it, such as hardwood mulch or sand.

Public health efforts

Both national and statewide emergency department, hospitalization, and death data help inform the most effective approaches to prevent and address TBI. These data also provide insight into which populations are more likely to experience TBI and may need additional support, which informs best practice recommendations, community outreach, and partnership efforts. The efforts are funded through the federal Injury Center's Core State Injury Prevention Program (SIPP). Learn more about the Core SIPP on the CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) website.

The CDC HEADS UP campaign provides free tools for health care providers, school administrators, nurses, teachers, coaches, and parents to help them recognize and respond to a TBI. HEADS UP materials can be found on the CDC website.

The WISH Query module provides data on injury-related mortality, emergency department (ED) visits, and injury-related hospitalizations of Wisconsin residents from 2016 through the most recent year of available data.

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Other TBI facts