Brain Injury Support Services

What is an acquired brain injury (ABI)?

An acquired brain injury, or ABI, refers to any damage to the brain that occurs after birth. This damage can affect the way a person thinks, moves, communicates, feels, or manages everyday tasks. This damage can happen in different ways, like an accident, a stroke, or a disease. Because the brain controls everything we do, a brain injury can make everyday activities - like talking, walking, or remembering things - much harder. Some people recover well with time, therapy and support, while others experience lifelong changes and will need ongoing specialist care.

Types of ABI – Traumatic and Non-traumatic Brain Injury

Acquired brain injuries are generally grouped into two categories: traumatic and non-traumatic.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury happens when an external force causes damage to the brain. This might occur from a fall, car accident or sporting injury and can be from a single isolated incident or repeated head impacts over time. 

Non-traumatic Brain Injury

Non-traumatic brain injuries occur when something internal affects the brain’s function. This can happen suddenly or develop gradually over time.

Common causes include:

• Stroke – when there is a blockage to blood flow or a bleed in the brain
• Tumours – growths in or around the brain that damage surrounding tissue
• Infections – such as meningitis or encephalitis, which cause inflammation and swelling
• Lack of oxygen (hypoxia or anoxia) – from events like cardiac arrest, near-drowning or respiratory failure
• Toxic exposure – including alcohol-related brain injury or poisoning
• Degenerative neurological conditions – such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias or Huntington’s disease, where brain cells progressively deteriorate over many years

A quick note: Whilst degenerative neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease can technically be considered a form of brain injury because they affect how the brain works over time, in practice these conditions are usually referred to by their specific name, rather than as an ‘acquired brain injury.’

How brain injuries affect people

No two brain injuries are the same. People may experience changes in:

• The way they communicate – this might include understanding what is said to them, finding the right words to express themselves, speaking clearly.
• The way they think – this might include memory, problem solving, making safe decisions, getting started on tasks.
• Their physical abilities – this might include the way they move around, balance, coordination, use of hands, ability to swallow, feeling fatigued.
• The way they respond in different situations – this might include changed behaviour, changes to mood or emotional regulation, and changes to social interactions.

Some effects are visible, while others are less obvious. Because many impacts are cognitive or behavioural, acquired brain injuries are often called “hidden disabilities.”

With the right therapies, routines and specialist support, like those offered at Brightwater, many people learn new strategies, regain skills and improve their independence over time.