As the image above shows, an injury to one part of the head can affects the brain in many different places. (Image from the Veterans Affairs Traumatic Brain Injury Center)

By Spc. Amanda Luksic

January 17, 2007 – Hitting your head on something isn't a pleasant experience and in a combat situation a Soldier’s mind is on the fight rather than a bump on the head, but a study by a group of Guardsmen and officials at the Veterans Administration say that a blow to the head should be taken more seriously.

To emphasize that point, the Georgia National Guard has teamed up with the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission and the regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, to help raise awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a growing problem in America's armed forces.The Georgia National Guard TBI group meets quarterly and is headed by Lt. Col. Steve Joyce and Bill Deegan.

Traumatic Brain Injury, VA officials say, is increasing because it can go unnoticed for years at a time, and symptoms go unrecognized .Some sufferers don’t even know it happened.

One of the goals of this task force is to educate veterans and families about the symptoms and treatment of TBI and where to get help. The goal is to use demobilization sites to brief both family members and Soldiers about the dangers and what to look for.

Doctor Inge Thomas, a member of the VA’s TBI center, said most people don’t know they have a mild brain injury until they are screened. Head injuries, he said, used to only be recognized if a person lost consciousness or had amnesia, but now if they are even dazed or slightly disoriented they should seek medical attention.

While many believe you have to suffer a paralyzing disability to have had a brain injury, that isn’t always true according to Stephanie Lotti, director of data and public policy for the commission. “Not all hits to the head cause paralysis, depending on where it happened can determine what kind of systems a person will show.”

Changes in behavior and work habits can be good indicators that someone has a brain injury, Lotti added. A loss of concentration, ability to focus, constant headache, sleep disorders and memory problems are some other symptoms.
What exactly is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

According to the VA’s Thomas, a TBI is an injury to the brain caused by a physical blow to the head, blast injury, penetrating shrapnel, motor vehicle accident, gun shot wound, etc. They can range from mild to moderate to severe.

According to Veterans Affairs officials screenings can help determine whether or not a service member is in need of further evaluation. These screenings take place after the service member has returned from the theater of operations and may help them realize that there is a problem when it is not readily realized.

The VA screening consists of four questions, each of which open up new questions if answered positively. This helps screeners to determine if the service member needs further treatment or not.

Many TBI cases go unnoticed for years or written off as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), say officials at the VA. Sometimes mild brain injury can go hand in hand with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, though Thomas cautions that a mild TBI usually doesn’t present itself for a few months to years after the incident.

“They just want to get home,” said Bill Deegan, the Transition Assistance Advisor for the National Guard. “They see the screening and signing up for VA benefits as another obstacle keeping them from getting there.”

The Georgia Guard has started a Home Station Demobilization system, in which Guard troops who deploy spend three or four day demobilizing at either Fort Stewart or Fort Gordon before heading home. This system allows for Soldiers and family members to attend briefings on TBI and PTSD.

For more information on TBIs and treatment call Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Atlanta VA 404-321-1611 ext. 4654 or on the web at Brain Injury Resource Foundation www.birf.info and Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission www.bsitf.state.ga.us.