ABSTRACT
This chapter provides classification of the severity, incidence, neuropathology, clinical course, and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI). It focuses on the nature and sequelae of TBI as it affects the adult population, with particular emphasis on young adults because these represent the group with the highest prevalence for this kind of injury. The high velocity of the impact causing TBI produces a range of immediate neuropathological changes. When the patient emerges from coma he or she enters into the state of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), which requires quite different management techniques. The chapter discusses the nature of specific cognitive impairments that are common in TBI and that are potentially important contributors to loss of communicative competence. It provides psychosocial factors that have implications for communication skills. Dysarthria following TBI has been reported to be one of the most persistent of communication impairments, resulting in a significant impact on the TBI victim's ability to regain functional independence.
