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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What is a brain injury?

    Related Topics
    Brain Injury Neurology
    Is there a difference between a hypoxic, traumatic, acquired and anoxic brain injury?                      
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    Dr Nicholas Bradfield

    Clinical Neuropsychologist, Psychologist

    Dr Bradfield is a Clinical Neuropsychologist working in private practice and in the public health system in Melbourne, Australia. He has clinical experience conducting neuropsychological … View Profile

    A brain injury is an impairment of brain function by a disease process or trauma. Functions of the brain that may be impaired include motor, sensory, cognitive or communication. There are differences between hypoxic, traumatic, acquired and anoxic brain injuries. An acquired brain injury (ABI) reflects an insult to the brain that usually happens after birth.  Hypoxic, traumatic, stroke and brain tumours are examples of ABI. Hypoxic and anoxic brain injury result from decreased availability and complete lack of oxygen supply to the brain respectively.  Causes can include heart attack, drug overdose, attempted hanging, near drowning etc. Traumatic brain injury results from mechanical forces damaging brain function. The most common causes are motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults and sporting accidents. 

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  • Brain Injury Australia

    Brain Injury Australia (BIA) represents all Australians with acquired brain injury (ABI) whatever the cause. BIA was formed at the first national community-based conference on … View Profile

    Acquired brain injury - or “ABI” - refers to any damage to the brain that occurs after birth (with the exception of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - FASD). That damage can be caused by an accident or trauma, by a stroke, a brain infection, by alcohol or other drugs or by diseases of the brain like Parkinson's disease.

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    A/Prof John Fuller

    Neurosurgeon

    Dr Fuller graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1987. He undertook neurosurgical training in Sydney at the Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s … View Profile

    Brain injury is any insult on the brain that may potentially affect the way in which it functions. Some of these insults may lead to permanent problems whereas others may be readily reversible.

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