Soldiers fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to survive wounds that would have normally fatal in previous conflicts. This is due to better body armor and better medical care. However, many soldiers suffer traumatic brain injuries, and these injuries are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI often occurs as a result of improvised explosive devices. The explosions do not always make theSoldier unconscious. Often there is no direct physical evidence that something might be wrong. Some doctors and veterans say, is the high performance of field devices result in brain injuries, from the very precisely in the fact sustained in sports or car accidents differ.
TBI can cause cognitive problems including forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and headaches. TBI may coexist or be confused with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Many veteranshave complained of persistent and sometimes disabling symptoms such as insomnia, dizziness and confusion.
Mild brain injury was widely overlooked by the military and the Veteran's Health System until recently. The New York Times recently reported that most soldiers suffer TBI remain on duty despite their injuries. When they come home, the problems resulting from her injuries are varied. Many veterans diagnosed with TBI have been fighting toRemain in employment after leaving the military.
In April 2008, the RAND Corporation has published a comprehensive study on the mental health of returnees. RAND began collecting data in April 2007 and completed in January 2008. The RAND study found that 19% reported (or 320,000) of the veterans most likely a traumatic brain injury while deployed. However, 57% were never assessed by a physician for a brain injury. The study presented thefar-reaching consequences of TBI in particular if it is not diagnosed and treated.
In July 2008, the New York Times reported that soldiers would undergo a new test to be Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, or Anam. It measures things like reaction time and memory. Signed after the first Persian Gulf War, President Bill Clinton, a law requiring the military "accurately record the health status of members before their deployment and any changes their health during their deployment. "Since brain injuries can be subtle, way outward, like irritability and dizziness, a sophisticated diagnostic tool is essential.
As a result, the RAND study, The Institute of Medicine, a government advisory group that studies public health and medical issues, a report in December 2008, the military demanded large-scale studies to better assess the return of war veterans and to react to do> Traumatic brain injuries, and for all new recruits for the cognitive abilities test.
There remains much to brain injury and increased funding for research is important to know, because our soldiers and veterans deserve the highest quality care.
