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