Traumatic Brain Injury - A Major Headache For Servicemen and Veterans
Soldiers fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are surviving wounds that would typically have been fatal in past conflicts.
This is due to better body armor and better medical care.
However, many servicemen and women are suffering traumatic brain injuries, and these injuries are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI often occurs as a result of improvised explosive devices.
The explosions do not always render the soldiers unconscious.
Often there are no immediate physical signs that something might be wrong.
Some doctors and veterans say the high power of I.
E.
Ds result in brain injuries that are very different from those suffered in while engaging in sports or in auto accidents.
TBI can result in cognitive problems including forgetfulness, difficulty in concentrating and headaches.
TBI can be mistaken for or coexist with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Many veterans have complained of persistent, sometimes disabling symptoms like sleeplessness, dizziness and confusion.
Mild brain injury has been widely overlooked by the military and the Veteran's health system until very recently.
The New York Times recently reported that most soldiers that suffer TBI remain on duty despite their injuries.
Once they come home the problems arising from their injuries are manifold.
Many veterans diagnosed with TBI have struggled to remain employed after they leave the military.
In April 2008 the RAND Corporation released a comprehensive study of the mental health of returning veterans.
RAND began collecting data in April of 2007 and concluded in January of 2008.
The RAND study determined that 19% (or 320,000) of veterans reported a likely traumatic brain injury during their deployment.
However 57% were never evaluated by a physician for a brain injury.
The study noted the far-reaching consequences of TBI particularly if it is not diagnosed and treated.
In July 2008 the New York Times reported that troops would undergo a new test called Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, or ANAM.
It measures things like reaction time and memory.
After the first Persian Gulf war, President Bill Clinton signed a bill requiring the military to "accurately record the medical condition of members before their deployment and any changes in their medical condition during the course of their deployment.
" Since brain injuries can manifest themselves in subtle, ways, like irritability and dizziness, a sophisticated diagnostic tool is essential.
As a result of the RAND study The Institute of Medicine, a government advisory group that studies health and medical issues, released a report in December 2008 calling on the military to do large scale studies of returning combat veterans to better evaluate and respond to traumatic brain injury as well as to test all new recruits for cognitive skills.
Much remains unknown about brain injuries and more funding for research is vital, because our soldiers and veterans deserve the highest quality care.
This is due to better body armor and better medical care.
However, many servicemen and women are suffering traumatic brain injuries, and these injuries are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI often occurs as a result of improvised explosive devices.
The explosions do not always render the soldiers unconscious.
Often there are no immediate physical signs that something might be wrong.
Some doctors and veterans say the high power of I.
E.
Ds result in brain injuries that are very different from those suffered in while engaging in sports or in auto accidents.
TBI can result in cognitive problems including forgetfulness, difficulty in concentrating and headaches.
TBI can be mistaken for or coexist with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Many veterans have complained of persistent, sometimes disabling symptoms like sleeplessness, dizziness and confusion.
Mild brain injury has been widely overlooked by the military and the Veteran's health system until very recently.
The New York Times recently reported that most soldiers that suffer TBI remain on duty despite their injuries.
Once they come home the problems arising from their injuries are manifold.
Many veterans diagnosed with TBI have struggled to remain employed after they leave the military.
In April 2008 the RAND Corporation released a comprehensive study of the mental health of returning veterans.
RAND began collecting data in April of 2007 and concluded in January of 2008.
The RAND study determined that 19% (or 320,000) of veterans reported a likely traumatic brain injury during their deployment.
However 57% were never evaluated by a physician for a brain injury.
The study noted the far-reaching consequences of TBI particularly if it is not diagnosed and treated.
In July 2008 the New York Times reported that troops would undergo a new test called Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, or ANAM.
It measures things like reaction time and memory.
After the first Persian Gulf war, President Bill Clinton signed a bill requiring the military to "accurately record the medical condition of members before their deployment and any changes in their medical condition during the course of their deployment.
" Since brain injuries can manifest themselves in subtle, ways, like irritability and dizziness, a sophisticated diagnostic tool is essential.
As a result of the RAND study The Institute of Medicine, a government advisory group that studies health and medical issues, released a report in December 2008 calling on the military to do large scale studies of returning combat veterans to better evaluate and respond to traumatic brain injury as well as to test all new recruits for cognitive skills.
Much remains unknown about brain injuries and more funding for research is vital, because our soldiers and veterans deserve the highest quality care.
