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Learn about TBI - For Individuals and Families

Glossary of Terms

Families often hear unfamiliar medical terms. This glossary provides a sample of terms commonly used after a person has a brain injury.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Abstract thinking Ability to apply a concept or idea unrelated to a specific object to new situations.

Acute care Hospital with medical staff, including physicians, nurses and other staff.

Acute rehabilitation program Early phase of rehabilitation beginning as soon as patient is medically stable. Includes an interdisciplinary team of professionals.

ADL Activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, toileting, eating, etc.).

AFO Ankle-foot orthosis, a short leg brace.

Ambulate To walk.

Amnesia Loss of memory.

Aneurysm A balloon-like deformity in the wall of a blood vessel. The wall weakens as the balloon grows larger and may eventually burst, causing a hemorrhage.

Anoxia Lack of oxygen to the brain. Anticonvulsant Medication to decrease possibility of seizures.

Aphasia Loss of ability to express oneself and/or to understand language that is caused by damage to brain cells.

Aspiration Fluid or food enters the lungs through the windpipe. Can cause a lung infection or pneumonia.

Ataxia Problem with muscle coordination caused by lesion of the cerebellum or basal ganglia. Can interfere with a person's ability to walk, talk, eat and self-care.

Attention Ability to focus on a given task or set of stimuli for an appropriate period of time.

B

Bilateral Pertaining to right and left sides of body.

Biofeedback Process in which information not ordinarily perceived (heart rate, skin temperature, etc.) is recorded and relayed back instantaneously as a signal so the individual becomes aware of any alteration in recorded activity.

Brain injury Damage to the brain that results in impairments in one or more functions.

Brain stem Lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord. Neurological functions of the brain stem are necessary for survival (breathing, heart rate) and arousal (being awake and alert).

C

Catheter A flexible tube for withdrawing fluids from, or introducing fluids into, a cavity of the body. Frequently used to drain the urinary bladder.

Cerebellum Portion of the brain (located in the back) that helps coordinate movement.

Cerebral infarct When blood supply is reduced below a critical level to a specific region of the brain and brain tissue in that region dies.

Cerebral-spinal fluid Liquid which fills the ventricles of the brain and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Clonus A sustained series of rhythmic jerks following quick stretch of a muscle.

Closed head injury An injury to the brain without penetration of the skull.

Cognitive impairment Difficulty with basic brain functions-perception, memory, attention or reasoning.

Coma State of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be awakened or aroused, even by powerful stimulation; lack of any response to one's environment. Defined clinically as an inability to follow a one-step command consistently. Glasgow Coma Scale score of eight or less.

Comprehension Understanding spoken, written or general communication.

Concentration Maintaining attention on a task over a period of time; remaining attentive and not easily diverted.

Concrete thinking Unable to generalize between situations.

Concussion The common result of a blow to the head or sudden deceleration usually causing an altered mental state, either temporary or prolonged.

Confabulation Conversation which the person believes to be true though may not be, and is an attempt to fill in memory gaps.

Confusion A state in which a person is bewildered, perplexed or unable to self-orient.

Contrecoup Bruising of brain tissue on the side opposite where the blow was struck.

CT Scan/Computerized axial tomography Series of X-rays taken at different levels of the brain that give direct images of skull and intracranial structures. Often taken soon after the injury to determine if surgery is needed. Scan may be repeated later to see how the brain is recovering.

Cue Signal or direction to help a person do an activity.

D

Decubitus Discolored or open area of skin damage caused by pressure.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) A shearing injury of large nerve fibers in many areas of the brain, which is a primary cause of brain injury.

Disinhibition Inability to control (inhibit) impulsive behavior and emotions.

Disorientation Not knowing where you are, who you are or current date. Staff will often speak of being oriented three times referring to person, place, and time.

Dysarthria Difficulty forming words or speaking because of weakness or lack of coordination of muscles used in speech.

E

Echolalia Imitation of sounds or words without comprehension.

Edema Collection of fluid in the tissue causing swelling.

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) Recording made by electrode pads on chest to monitor heart rate and rhythm.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Procedure that uses electrodes on the scalp to record electrical activity of the brain.

Electromyography (EMG) Insertion of needle electrodes into muscles to study electrical activity of muscle and nerve fibers.

Emotional lability Involuntary, uncontrolled laughing or crying.

Endotracheal tube A tube that serves as an artificial airway that is inserted through the patient's mouth or nose.

Executive functions Activities controlled by the frontal lobes, including planning, prioritizing, sequencing, self-monitoring, selfcorrecting, inhibiting, initiating and controlling behavior.

Extremity An arm or leg.

F

Flaccid Lacking normal muscle tone; limp.

Flexion Bending a joint.

Frontal lobe Front part of the brain; involved in planning, organizing, problem solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of higher level thinking.

Functional Ability to use skills in useful activities in a reasonable amount of time.

G

Gait training Instruction in walking, with or without equipment.

Gastrostomy tube A tube inserted through a surgical opening into the stomach. Places liquids, food or medications into stomach when person is unable to take them by mouth.

Glasgow coma scale A standardized system used to assess degree of brain impairment and to identify seriousness of injury in relation to outcome. Involves three areas: eye opening, verbal responses and motor responses.

H

Hematoma Collection of blood in tissues or a space in the body following the rupture of a blood vessel. Types include:

Hemianopsia Loss of half the visual field in one or both eyes.

Hemiparesis Weakness of one side of the body.

Hemorrhage Bleeding that occurs following damage to blood vessels.

I

ICP Intracranial pressure.

ICU Intensive care unit.

Impulse control Ability to withhold inappropriate verbal or motor responses while completing a task.

Incontinent Inability to control bowel and bladder functions.

Independent Ability to perform a task without assistance or supervision.

Initiation Refers to individual's ability to begin a series of behaviors directed toward a goal.

J

Jargon Spoken language that has a normal rate and rhythm but is full of nonsense words.

K

Kinesthesia Sensory awareness of body parts as they move.

L

Lability Notable shifts in emotional state (e.g., uncontrolled laughing or crying).

Lethargic Awakens with stimulation; drowsy but awake.

Long term memory Ability to easily recall feelings, events, ideas and other information from a long time ago.

M

Medicaid State and federal program of public assistance to persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care.

Medicare Hospital and supplementary medical insurance for disabled or aged persons under the Social Security Act.

Memory Ability to retain and recall information.

Mobility Ability of an individual to move within, and interact with, the environment.

MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging, high tech diagnostic tool to display tissues unseen in X-rays or other techniques.

N

Nasogastric tube (NG tube) A tube that passes through the patient's nose and throat and ends in the patient's stomach, which can be used for feeding or suction.

Neglect Paying little or no attention to a part of the body.

Neuron Cells in the brain that send and receive information.

Neurologist A physician who specializes in the nervous system and its disorders.

Neuropsychologist A psychologist who specializes in evaluating (by tests) brain/ behavior relationships; planning training programs to help the survivor of brain injury return to normal functioning; and recommending alternative cognitive and behavioral strategies.

NPO Latin initials for "nothing by mouth." This means no liquids or foods for a set period, usually in preparation for certain tests, or when the person cannot safely swallow.

O

Occipital lobe Region in the back of the brain that processes visual information.

Occupational therapy Therapeutic use of self-care, work and play activities to increase independent function, enhance development and prevent disability.

Orthosis Splint or brace designed to improve function or provide stablity.

P

Paraparesis Weakness of lower limbs.

Parietal lobe One of the two parietal lobes of the brain located behind the frontal lobe at the top of the brain.

Perception Ability to make sense of what one sees, hears, feels, tastes or smells. Perceptual losses often are very subtle and the patient and/or family are unaware of them.

Perceptual motor Interaction of vision with motor activities, such as eye-hand coordination.

Perseveration Uncontrolled, involuntary repetition of speech or activity.

Physiatrist Physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation; some are expertsin neurologic rehabilitation.

Physical therapist Evaluates movement, including muscle strength, muscle tone, posture, coordination, endurance and general mobility.

Post concussion syndrome Group of symptoms after a concussion that may include memory changes, mood swings, poor concentration, headache, dizziness, depression and anxiety.

Problem-solving Ability to bring cognitive process to figuring out how to do a task.

Prognosis Prospect for recovery from a disease or injury based on nature and symptoms of the case.

Prone Lying on stomach.

Psychologist Professional specializing in counseling, including helping people adjust to disability. Maybe uses tests to identify personality and cognitive functioning.

Q

Quadriparesis Weakness of all four limbs.

R

Random movement An action or process of moving without obvious aim, purpose or reason.

Range of motion (ROM) Active or passive movement of a joint.

Recreation therapist Responsible for developing a program to help persons with disabilities plan and manage leisure activities.

Rehabilitation Comprehensive program to help individuals reach optimal mental and physical abilities or adjust to an illness or disability.

S

Seizure Uncontrolled discharge of nerve cells that may cause loss of consciousness, loss of bowel and bladder control and tremors. Usually lasts only a few minutes.

Sensation Feeling stimuli in taste, smell, hearing, vision, hearing and touch.

Sequencing Keeping track of the correct order of events for body movement and language.

Shunt Procedure to draw off excess fluid in brain. Surgically-placed tube running from ventricles deposits fluid into abdominal cavity, heart or large veins of the neck.

Skull fracture Breaking of bones surrounding the brain. In a depressed skull fracture, the broken bone exerts pressure on the brain.

Social worker Acts as liaison between professionals and others including family, funding sources, friends and representatives of past or future placements.

Spasticity Involuntary increase in muscle tone that occurs following injury to the brain or spinal cord, causing muscles to resist being moved.

Speech and language pathology services Includes prevention, identification, diagnosis, consultation and treatment of patients regarding speech, language, oral and pharyngeal sensorimotor function.

Supine Lying on back.

T

Temporal lobes There are two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain, located about the level of the ears. These lobes allow a person to tell one smell from another and one sound from another. They also help sort new information.

Thrombosis A blood clot.

Tone The tension in resting muscles and the amount of resistance that is felt when a muscle is moved.

Tracheostomy Temporary surgical opening at the front of the throat providing access to the trachea or windpipe to assist in breathing.

U

Unilateral Pertaining to one side of the body.

V

Ventilator Machine that helps an individual breathe, keeps airway passages in the throat clear and provides adequate oxygen to the body.

Ventricles, brain Four natural cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Outline of one or more of these cavities may change when a space occupying lesion (hemorrhage, tumor) develops.

Vocational evaluation Comprehensive process that systematically uses work, real or simulated, as a focal point for assessment and vocational exploration.

Void To urinate.

W

Wheelchair tolerance Amount of time a person is able to sit in a wheelchair, determined by the skin's response to pressure while sitting, and ability to sit without excessive fatigue.