Dr. Eboni Green
November 13, 2022
There’s no getting around how much of an impact a brain injury has on someone’s life. Unfortunately, this extends beyond the initial injury and subsequent treatment. Individuals suffering from a brain injury can expect lifelong complications. They’ll need to be prepared for these challenges until they’re better able to manage their care alone.
There are multiple facts about how a brain injury affects a person’s life, such as how their life expectancy is usually reduced by up to nine years, although this depends on the extent of the injury. Then there’s the fact that dealing with the injury, as survivors are 50 times more likely to have a fatal seizure.
In addition, 57% of traumatic brain injury survivors are considered moderately or severely disabled, a statistic which jumps to 61% among children. Health conditions can also have an impact on a brain injury, with injury survivors being nine times more likely to die from an infection compared to someone without an injury.
Simply put, life isn’t expected to be normal following a traumatic brain injury. In fact, more than five years after a brain injury survivors will be 55% less likely to be employed. The injury and its symptoms can play a significant role in employability. It also means survivors are 33% more likely to need daily care because of the condition.
Even children will need help, with 14% needing educational support. Mental health among survivors is also a concern with up to 29% of survivors developing a substance abuse disorder post-injury.
Dizziness and balancing issues can also be a notable way a brain injury affects a person’s life, with 30% of survivors reporting these as issues. Surviving a brain injury comes at a financial cost, with treatment ranging between $85,000 and $4 million.
Infographic designed by How a Brain Injury Can Forever Change a Person’s Life
