Traumatic Brain Injury

Often called an “invisible epidemic,” traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating and costly health problem. Every 21 seconds a person in the U.S. suffers a TBI, most often as the result of a motor vehicle crash, fall, act of violence or recreational sporting activity. In Utah, an estimated 44,000 residents are living with a disability related to a TBI. (For more information, see the new fact sheets TBI in Utah Overall 2006, TBI in Utah Transportation-related 2006, TBI in Utah Fall-related 2006 and TBI in Utah 2000-2003 Report.

TBI is an injury to the head that results in one or more of the following:

1. decreased level of consciousness;
2. amnesia;
3. skull fracture;
4. neurological or neuropsychological abnormality;
5. diagnosed intracranial lesion; or
6. death.

In Utah and the U.S., the vast majority of TBI victims are young males ages 15-24 and adults over age 70. Seniors age 60 and older sustain a disproportionate number of TBIs from falls. Utahns under age 60 suffer most TBIs in motor vehicle and other transportation crashes.

Utah adolescents have the highest rate of TBI compared to all other ages. Of those aged 15-19 in 1999 who sustained a brain injury in a car crash where belt use was known, 73% were NOT wearing a seat belt. Among those ages 11-19 during 1998 and 1999 who incurred a spinal cord injury from a car crash in which belt use was known, 54% were NOT wearing a seat belt.

Why is it important?
According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), more people sustain a TBI than are diagnosed with breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis combined. Traumatic brain injury can leave victims with long-term cognitive impairments that limit their ability to function in normal daily activities. Many of those who become impaired may have difficulty remembering, learning, controlling their temper, living alone, earning a living, and getting from place to place.

What are the risk factors?
One of the highest risk factors for traumatic brain injury in Utah is being male, as males are twice as likely to be injured as females. Why the difference? Some theories include:

• The competitive nature of males
• Their love of the outdoors
• Their willingness to take chances and engage in high-risk activities

Young people are also a high-risk group because of driving inexperience, an inability to make accurate assessments of dangerous situations, and pressure to be "cool." In fact, Utah teens ages 15-17 are five times more likely to have a fatal crash and 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash that results in hospitalization when traveling with passengers than when driving alone. It has been shown that teens are less likely to wear seat belts than other age groups, increasing their risk of injury. The combination of speeding, risk-taking, inexperience, and refusal to wear seat belts can be deadly for teens and fellow motorists.

Graduated Driver Licensing
In response to TBI data, the Utah legislature in 1998 adopted a law that requires teens to put more time behind the wheel before becoming fully licensed. Graduated driver licensing allows new drivers to learn driving skills over time and gain the experience needed to become safe drivers. Through this law, teens receive a "limited drivers license." They are not allowed to drive at night or with friends (without first meeting specific requirements), and can be pulled over for a seatbelt violation as a primary offense.

Safety advocates across Utah are confident that, over time, the law will reduce the number of teen driver crashes and fatalities.