A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Abstract thinking
Understanding concepts that are not related to the “here and now”, or that can not be easily seen or understood.
Activities of Daily Living
All tasks relating to daily life including personal care, meal preparation and domestic tasks such as cleaning and community tasks such as shopping.
Adynamia
Difficulty initiating activities or starting a task, gives the appearance of lethargy.
Affect
Observable emotion in a person and how they present.
Ageusia
Loss of the sense of taste.
Agnosia
Complete or partial loss of the ability to recognise objects.
Agraphia
Loss of the ability to write.
Alexia
Loss of the ability to read including language, symbols and music.
Ambulation
The ability to walk.
Amnesia
Loss of the ability to remember (can be retrograde which is the loss of ability to remember past experiences or can be antero-grade which is the loss of ability to make new memories).
Aneurysm
A balloon-like weakness on the wall of a vessel in the body that can burst. This includes blood vessels in the brain.
Anarthria
Loss of speech due to impairment of muscles caused by injury to brain area that controls the nerves supplying speech muscles.
Anomia
Inability to recall the names of things.
Anosmia
Complete or partial loss of the sense of smell.
Anoxia
Lack of oxygen to tissue in part of the body such as the brain.
Aphasia
Loss of ability in understanding and/or expression of language.
Apraxia
Loss of the ability to perform and control purposeful movements while still having the ability to move and be aware of movement.
Arousal
Degree of being wakeful and alert.
Aspiration
Food or fluid entering the lungs from the wind pipe.
Ataxia
Abnormal movements due to loss of coordination of the muscles.
Atrophy
Shrinking in size of a cell, tissue, organ, or part of the body.
Attention span
Length of time one can concentrate on a task.
Auditory
Related to hearing.
Automatic speech
Involuntary words spoken without conscious thought such as a greeting or swearing.
B
Bilateral
Relating to both sides (of the body).
Brain Injury, Closed
The brain is damaged within the skull cavity but the membranes covering the brain are intact.
Brain injury, Focal
Injury restricted to one region (as opposed to diffuse).
Brain Injury, Open
The skull and membranes are damaged and the brain itself may be exposed.
Brain Injury, Penetrating
A foreign body enters the brain such as a splinter of metal or bullet.
Brain Injury, Traumatic
Damage to the brain caused by an external force.
Brain stem
The lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord. The brain stem controls the functions necessary for survival such as breathing, heart rate and alertness.
Burr hole
A surgical drill hole made through the skull.
C
Case Management
Working with a person to plan and coordinate the appropriate treatment, services and support.
Catheter
A tube which is inserted into any body part to withdraw or introduce fluids.
Cerebellum
Located at the base of the brain near the brain stem. The Cerebellum helps coordinate movement. Injury may result in ataxia.
Cerebral
Concerning the brain.
Cervical
Neck area of the spinal column. Cervical injuries can result in quadriplegia.
Cerebral Angiogram
An x-ray picture of the blood vessels inside the head. A drug which outlines these cerebral vessels is injected via an artery in the groin.
Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF)
Liquid which fills the ventricles (or cavities) of the brain and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrovascular
The blood vessels (the veins, arteries and capillaries) and circulation within the brain.
Cerebrovascular accident
See Stroke.
Cerebrum
The main part of the brain which sits in the upper part of the skull cavity.
Cognition
The processes of thinking, reasoning, and understanding.
Coma
The state of not being responsive or able to be aroused. The person does not open their eyes, follow commands or speak.
Comprehension
Ability to understand.
Computerised Tomography Scan (CT scan)
A series of x-rays at different levels of the brain producing images of cross-sections of the brain.
Concentration
The ability to maintain attention on a task without being distracted.
Concrete thinking
Taking things literally or being stuck in the “here and now” (see abstract thinking).
Concussion
Temporary alteration of mental state that may or may not be associated with a loss of consciousness caused by trauma to the head.
Confabulation
Unconsciously making up information to give a fluent answer that may not relate to actual events.
Confusion
Not able to orientate self to time, place and person (e.g. not being able to accurately give personal details such as age or name).
Contra coupe
Bruising of the brain tissue on the side opposite where the blow was struck.
Contracture
A shortening of tissues causing loss of movement and deformity of joint.
Contusion
Bruising of the brain.
Crainiectomy
Surgical removal of the skull in small pieces.
Craniotomy
Surgical removal of a sizeable piece of skull. In effect, a window made in the skull to allow access to the brain and its coverings.
D
Demylination
Removal of the protective Myelin sheath around the nerves.
Diffuse brain injury
Injury to cells in many areas of the brain rather than in one specific location.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Tearing / shearing of nerve fibers throughout the brain, which is common after trauma.
Diplopia
Double vision.
Disinhibition
Loss of the ability to inhibit responses and control what is said or done.
Disorientation
Not being aware, or being confused about time, place, person. May be some or all of these.
Distractibility
Inability to concentrate in the presence of distraction.
Dysarthria
Difficulty speaking due to injury to the brain area that controls the nerves supplying the muscles or speech.
Dysgraphia
Difficulty with writing.
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing.
Dysphasia
Difficulty in the comprehension and/or expression of language.
Dyspraxia
Difficulty with performing purposeful movements while still having the ability to move and be aware of movement.
E
Echolalia
Repetition of sounds or words said by others but without comprehension. This is a normal stage of language development in infants but is abnormal in adults.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
EEG is a test used to record any changes in electrical activity of the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp. An EEG is used in the testing for epilepsy.
Embolism
Something that blocks a blood vessel (can be air, fat, blood clot).
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain. Can be caused by infection or disease.
Endotracheal tube
A tube into the airway through the mouth or nose to allow air into lungs and help breathing.
Epilepsy
There are many varied presentations. May involve uncontrolled movement involving parts of, or the complete body, or can involve a temporary lack of responsiveness. Also known as having seizures or fits.
Executive functions
High level brain functions that help us undertake goal directed activities. Examples of executive functions include planning, initiating, stopping or inhibiting inappropriate actions, monitoring ourselves.
F
Flaccidity
Limpness caused by a lack of muscle tone.
Frontal lobes
Part of the brain at the front of the cerebrum. Frontal lobe is involved in planning, organising, problem solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of higher cognitive functions.
G
Gait
Walking style.
Glasgow Coma scale
Standardized scoring system of best motor, speech and eye opening responses which is used to estimate severity of brain injury at the time of injury.
H
Haematoma
A collection or clot of blood.
Hemianopia
Loss of sight in the same sides of both eyes. This can cause an inability to see things on the left or right side.
Hemiparesis
Weakness on one side of the body.
Hemiplegia
Paralysis of one side of the body.
Hydrocephalus
Increasing pressure in the head due to enlargement of the ventricles from an abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid.
Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen to tissue in part of the body such as the brain.
I
Impulsivity
A tendency to rush into something without reflecting or thinking first.
Impulse control
The ability to control and inhibit inappropriate speech or actions.
Incontinence
Inability to control bladder and/or bowel function.
Infarct
An area of brain cells which have died as a result of a loss of blood supply.
Initiation
The ability to begin an activity without external prompting.
Intra-cerebral haematoma
Blood clot in the brain.
Intracranial pressure (ICP)
The pressure inside the skull.
Ischaemia
When the blood supply to tissues is reduced or absent.
L
Lability
Fluctuating emotional responses.
Locked in syndrome
When a person is completely paralysed but is able to understand and able to receive sensory input.
M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A scan of the brain using radiofrequency waves and magnetic fields instead of X-ray. It enables detailed pictures of the brain to be acquired using a non invasive procedure.
Memory
Collecting and storing information and the ability to retrieve it.
Motivation
The desire to achieve something and to be able to follow it through.
N
Neglect
Not being aware of part of the body, often one side of the body (hemineglect) usually the left side.
Neuron
A nerve cell. (the plural term is Neurones / Neurons)
Neurology
The study of the nervous system.
Neuropsychology
The study of the relationship between the brain and behavior.
Neuropsychological assessment
Provides detailed information about how a brain injury changes the way your brain works by looking at changes to memory and thinking skills.
O
Occipital lobes
The region at the back of the brain which processes visual information.
Oedema
Increased water content in the brain, causing brain swelling.
P
Parietal lobes
Areas on the both sides of the brain, behind the frontal lobe and above the temporal lobes at the top of the brain. Important in receiving and interpreting sensory input.
Perception
The ability to make sense of information from each and all of the senses.
Perseveration
Getting stuck on a word, an idea or an activity and not being able to move on from it.
Photophobia
An abnormal sensitivity to light.
Post traumatic amnesia (PTA)
The period after being in a coma when there is confused behaviour and no continuous memory of day to day events.
Pre Morbid
Before the illness or injury occurred.
Prognosis
Expected outcome of an injury or disease.
Proprioception
Sensory awareness of the position of body parts with or without movement.
R
Retrograde Amnesia
Not able to remember information which occurred before the injury or disease.
Rigidity
Not able to adjust your thoughts or actions in response to changes in the environment.
S
Seizure
Involuntary muscle movement or behaviour as a result of abnormal nerve cell activity in the brain.
Sequencing
Being able to do something in the appropriate order.
Shunt
A surgically placed tube running from the ventricles of the brain, which takes excess fluid away from the brain and drains it off into the abdomen, heart or veins in the neck.
Spasticity
An involuntary increase in muscle tone (tension).
Spatial orientation
The ability to find your way around and or know where things are in space.
Spontaneous recovery
Healing that occurs regardless of treatment.
Stroke (also termed Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Interruption to the blood supply to the brain through blockage or rupture of a blood vessel, causing cell damage or death that leads to loss of function of the affected part.
Subdural
Layer between the outer protective covering of the brain (Dura) and the middle layer of the meninges (Arachnoid).
T
Temporal lobes
One on each side of the brain located at about the level of the ears. The temporal lobe is involved in hearing, speech, comprehension, naming, visual processing, memory function, spatial awareness.
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears.
Tracheostomy
A breathing tube inserted through the middle of the neck just below the voice box so that air can get into the lungs.
Transitional living
A residential program teaching living skills which provides a transition between hospital and home.
Tremor - Resting
Involuntary rhythmical movements that increase when resting.
Tremor - Intention
Involuntary rhythmical movements that occur when you attempt to move intentionally.
V
Vegetative state
State which occurs following very severe brain injury in which the person shows a lack of responsiveness and cognitive ability despite appearing to be awake.
Ventilator
A machine that does the breathing work for people who are not capable of breathing independently.
Ventricles
Cavities (spaces) inside the brain which contain cerebrospinal fluid.
Verbosity
Excessive talking.
Supplied by BrainLink Australia
