What’s in a name?

[Charente]

Acquired Brain injury v Traumatic Brain Injury

I notice that ABI is being used instead of TBI lately. As in reports and titles.

Is ABI different to TBI? Or is it just a change in Name? Thanks Anne

[Hidden]

TBI, caused by trauma

ABI, aquired via lack of oxygen, toxic poisoning, alcohol etc

[Kirk5w7]

Mine is acquired by way of Encephalitis not a trauma

[headwayuk Partner Headway]

Hi Charente, many thanks for your post.

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury caused to the brain since birth. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of ABI, where the injury has been caused by a trauma to the head such as a fall, road traffic collision, assault etc.

At Headway we use acquired brain injury/ABI most often because it covers all of the people we support, but will use traumatic brain injury/TBI when we focus in on a particular issue.

Best wishes,

Andrew

[SaveSamStrider in reply to headwayuk]

Hi! Acquired brain injury means that the brain injury happened in an event after birth so it covers TBI, anoxic, strokes. Kinda like an umbrella term that covers everything except genetics, congenital, etc.

[Marnie22]

A very good enquiry. I am pleased that ABI is used more now,, as my brain injury was not traumatic (it was caused by the brain swelling,) and when stuff is labelled TBI but it means all brain injury it can be confusing.

[cat3]

Hi Charente. Your husband's brain haemorrhage is a TBI as it was caused by a fall (Traumatic). Mine is an ABI as it was a spontaneous haemorrhage (acquired). x

[Charente]

Thanks everyone.... simple explanation Cat ...👍

[sealiphone]

First visit to a new GP and I was delighted when he told me I don't have a brain injury, actually a big argument ensued.

He knew I'd had 2 brain hemorrhages and I told him I'd been helped by a ABI team but he wouldn't have it, "A brain injury is the result of a traumatic event outside of the brain, such as a blow".

I changed GP practice.

[Marnie22 in reply to sealiphone]

It's sad that your anecdote doesn't surprise me very much. *SIGH*

[flyingstationwagon in reply to sealiphone]

Reminds me of something my husband said to me yesterday: “What do you call someone who passed medical school with a D- average? Doctor”

[Hidden]

Heyy there!

A traumatic brain injury TBI is where there has been a trauma to the head such as assaults, falls or road traffic accidents such as being hit by a car like myself!

And acquired brain injury can also involve a traumatic brain injury and can also be anything from a stroke, tumour, brain haemorrhage and encephalitis

The effects are very similar but how they are treated can differ!

I hope I’ve helped! Stay safe

[Pairofboots]

Hi Anne, many titles get banded around, like a badge of honour, my injury is different to yours. The fact is there is a plethora of injuries that effect the brain, and a plethora of causes.

The important thing is where in the brain the injury occurred, and how is best to treat it in the early stages, after this an injury is an injury. All will impact on life, some profoundly some slight, some will change behaviour, most will to a degree effect personality.