Brain Injury is often referred to as a silent epidemic because the ramifications that may occur, following a brain injury, are not always obvious right away. In fact, there are many people currently living with a brain injury, that have not been appropriately diagnosed, nor afforded the opportunity to partake in essential rehabilitation treatment. 

 

The brain, though remarkably sturdy, is also remarkable fragile. If you were to break a bone, there's a chance it may heal. If you were to deliver a baby, the most optimal expectation is that your body will adjust to a healthy new normal, If you were to clog a vessel, there are procedures to unclog your pipes, however, when brain cells are damaged, that's it! When they are injured, they die and are not replaced by new cells. 

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Brain injuries can have lifelong consequences as it changed the way the brain functions and in turn changes the way an individual goes about life. Functional changes may effect a person's ability to successfully function in school, work, and in relationships with others (Brain Injury Association of America, 2017).

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The estimated cost for brain injury care and loss of productivity is $76.5 billion/ year. No matter the classification, brain injury survivors are at heightened risk for developing significant disability for three reasons:

1. Awareness and understanding about brain injury is fairly limited​​

2. Brain injury is frequently not identified

3. Treatment is not always readily available

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