| Each year the number of U.S. veterans | | | | * No treatments currently exist to cure |
| increases as soldiers returning from | | | | long-lasting symptoms of TBI. |
| America's most recent wars come home. | | | | |
| However, as the survivors are welcomed home | | | | Flawed Brain Injury Technology |
| after pursuing a dutiful career serving their | | | | |
| country, a new generation of men and women | | | | Unfortunately, as budgets are cut, the |
| suffering from mild- to severe-traumatic | | | | quality of care and technology also |
| brain injuries (TBI) are greeted with battled | | | | decreases. Most recently the Government |
| medical budgets and flawed TBI technologies, | | | | Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed nine |
| which don't provide the necessary services | | | | Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and |
| and treatments required to improve their | | | | found that the TBI-screening test's validity |
| newly developed disabilities. | | | | and reliability may be flawed. |
| | | | |
| With an average of 1.4 million Americans | | | | Additionally, the report found that soldiers |
| undergoing some form of TBI, the number of | | | | with TBI may be receiving inadequate or |
| scientists and researchers striving to cure | | | | unnecessary care for their brain injuries, |
| these individuals should be ever increasing, | | | | according to an Associated Press article from |
| however, dwindling budgets continue to | | | | January 2008. The report found that: |
| compress and squeeze war-related brain injury | | | | |
| funding. In 2006, the U.S. House and Senate | | | | * Although the VA has implemented TBI |
| slashed the allocated funding for the Defense | | | | screening tools, the validity and reliability |
| and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) in | | | | of the tool has not yet been established. |
| half from the previous year. | | | | |
| | | | * The VA has implemented a protocol to ensure |
| Traumatic brain injury has been deemed the | | | | soldiers testing positive for TBI are |
| "signature" injury of the Iraq war, according | | | | adequately treated; however, many of the VA's |
| to military doctors and experts. It is | | | | medical facilities either did not follow the |
| imperative for struggling soldiers to find | | | | protocol or had difficulty doing so. |
| assistance with their TBI-related disability. | | | | |
| | | | * Culturally, the VA has found that Iraq |
| What is TBI? | | | | veterans feel the VA and its facilities cater |
| | | | to elderly veterans and do not want to treat |
| Traumatic brain injury is defined as an | | | | young veterans. |
| injury that occurs after an abrupt trauma | | | | |
| causes damage to the brain, according to the | | | | * The VA is struggling with poor rural access |
| National Institute of Neurological Disorders | | | | to medical centers as well as poor turnout |
| and Stroke (NINDS). War-related TBI can occur | | | | rates for injured vets who in some cases must |
| in many ways and individuals suffering from | | | | drive 100 miles plus to reach a nearby VA |
| this and related side effects will find | | | | hospital. |
| symptoms vary on a case-by-case diagnosis. | | | | |
| | | | Living With TBI |
| Researchers and scientists are, however, | | | | |
| finding several repetitive conditions and | | | | Veterans who are currently living with TBI |
| symptoms among TBI victims. The common signs | | | | will find that not only does TBI affect them, |
| and symptoms of these war-related conditions | | | | but the ripple effect among an injured |
| are as followed, according to a studies | | | | veteran's family and friends is quite |
| published in the medical journals of | | | | extensive. There are an array of clinical |
| Neuropsychology and Brain Injury: | | | | trials that a TBI victim can become involved |
| | | | in to improve the living conditions as well |
| * cognitive issues *decreased attention | | | | as to treat the symptoms of TBI. Some of |
| span, including focused, selective and | | | | these clinical trials can be found through |
| sustained attention problems *language | | | | the following organizations Web sites: |
| difficulties | | | | |
| | | | * National Institute of Neurological |
| * lack of motivation *inability to | | | | Disorders and Stroke - Brain Resources and |
| efficiently process information | | | | Information Network (BRAIN) |
| | | | |
| * irritability *depression and anxiety | | | | * Acoustic Neuroma Association Brain Trauma |
| | | | Foundation |
| * increased fatigue *headaches *memory loss | | | | |
| or disturbance | | | | * Brain Injury Association of America Family |
| | | | Caregiver Alliance/National Center on |
| * behavioral issues | | | | Caregiving National Rehabilitation |
| | | | Information Center (NARIC) |
| * disrupted sleep | | | | |
| | | | * National Stroke Association |
| * post traumatic stress disorder | | | | |
| | | | * National Institute on Disability and |
| In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBIC | | | | Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) |
| testified to a Senate subcommittee that while | | | | |
| "body armor may save troops caught in blasts | | | | Finding Brain Injury Assistance |
| it leaves many with brain damage," according | | | | |
| to a USA Today news report. Additionally, the | | | | There are several organizations available to |
| article cited several disturbing statistics | | | | offer assistance specifically to those with |
| on the state of TBI and war veterans. | | | | war-related ailments. The following are |
| | | | several of the leading organizations |
| * 10 percent of all troops in Iraq suffer | | | | hospitals: |
| from concussions during combat. * 20 percent | | | | |
| of all frontline infantry troops suffer from | | | | * Walter Reed Army Medical Center Defense and |
| concussions during combat. | | | | Veterans Brain Injury Center |
| | | | |
| *Scientists believe the Pentagon must screen | | | | * Defense Center of Excellence for |
| all troops returning from Iraq. | | | | Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain |
| | | | Injury |
| *The Pentagon has declined screenings for all | | | | |
| returning troops and only screen a small | | | | * National Intrepid Center of Excellence |
| population of soldiers. | | | | Deployment Health Clinical Center |
| | | | |
| *If left untreated or untested, multiple head | | | | *Center for Study of Traumatic Stress Center |
| injuries and concussions can cause permanent | | | | for Deployment Psychology |
| brain injury. | | | | |
| | | | * The Department of Defense (DoD) also offers |
| Also, several equally disturbing statistics | | | | a search component through their Web site to |
| have been reported from several specialized | | | | assist veterans in finding a veteran hospital |
| journals including Brain Injury, Internal | | | | in their geographic area. |
| Medicine, Soldiers Magazine, MIT's Technology | | | | |
| Review and Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. | | | | Additionally, individuals enduring the pain |
| These statistics area as follow: | | | | of a war-related brain injury are encouraged |
| | | | to locate an experienced traumatic brain |
| *Nearly 25 percent of all military veterans | | | | injury lawyer who can provide assistance with |
| of the Iraq war are diagnosed with a mental | | | | developing a brain injury lawsuit. Because of |
| illness. | | | | the nature of these injuries, there should be |
| | | | no reason why monetary compensation is not |
| * War-related TBI patients often manifest | | | | rewarded to an injured party. |
| distinct personality changes. | | | | |
| | | | TBI medical bills can be extremely expensive, |
| * Of the 35,000 soldiers screened for TBI, | | | | and this potential for awarded compensation |
| approximately 11 percent have had symptoms of | | | | can provide relief from the stress associated |
| mild TBI. | | | | with medical expenses. |
| | | | |