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Brain damage may occur due to a wide range of conditions, illnesses or injuries. Possible causes of widespread (diffuse) brain damage include prolonged hypoxia (shortage of oxygen), poisoning, infection or neurological illness. Common causes of focal or localized brain damage are physical trauma (head injury), stroke, aneurysm or neurological illness.
The extent and effect of brain injury is often assessed by the use of neurological examination, brain imaging and neuropsychological assessment.
Brain injury does not necessarily result in long-term impairment or disability, although the location and extent of damage has a significant effect on the likely outcome. In serious cases of brain injury, the result can be permanent disability, including neurocognitive deficits, speech or movement problems and mental handicap . Severe brain damage may result in persistent vegetative stateA persistent vegetative state (or PVS) is a condition of patients with severe brain damage in whom coma has progressed to a state of "wakefulness without awareness". The term was introduced by two doctors in 1972 to describe a syndrome that seemed to have, comaFor other meanings of the word "coma", especially in astronomy, see coma (disambiguation In medicine, a coma is a profound state of unconsciousness, which may result from a variety of conditions including intoxication ( drug, alcohol or toxins), metabolic, or deathThis page deals with death, the cessation of life. For other meanings of death, see death (disambiguation). Death is a term that can refer to either the termination of life in a living system, or the state of that organism after that event. A common perce.
Various professions may be involved in the medical care and rehabilitationRehabilitation is the restoration of lost capabilities, or the treatment aimed at producing it. As to Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and concussions, see Rehabilitation (neuropsychology) As to addictions, see Substance-abuse rehabilitatio of someone who suffers impairment after brain damage. NeurologistA neurologist is a physician who is specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic diseases. Famous neurologists include Alois Alzheimer ( Germany) Jean-Martin Charcot ( France) Jules Cotard (France) Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt (Germany) Anita Hards and PhysiatristA physiatrist is a doctor with specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This field of medicine involves the treatment of disorders that alter the function and performance of the patient. The focus of treatment is on the use of principles are doctorsA physician is a person who practices medicine. In the United States the term physician is traditional and commonly used. In Britain and Australia, the term doctor is more common as physician refers to specialists in internal medicine. Because of the exte who specialise in treating brain injury. Neuropsychologists (especially clinical neuropsychologists) are psychologists who specialise in understanding the effects of brain injury and may be involved in assessing the extent of brain damage or creating rehabilitation programmes. Occupational therapists may be involved in running rehabilitation programmes to help restore lost function or help re-learn essential skills.
Because the brain continues to develop until the late teens, damage sustained during childhood is often recovered from more successfully than if the same injury were to occur in adult life.
The effects of impairment or disability resulting from brain injury may be treated by a number of methods, including medication, psychotherapy, neuropsychological rehabilitation, surgery or physical implants such as deep brain stimulation.