Acquired brain injury (
ABI) is
brain damage caused by events after
birth, rather than as part of a
genetic or
congenital disorder such as
fetal alcohol syndrome,
perinatal illness or perinatal hypoxia. ABI can result in
cognitive, physical,
emotional, or
behavioural impairments that lead to permanent or temporary changes in functioning. These impairments result from either
traumatic brain injury (e.g.
physical trauma due to
accidents, assaults,
neurosurgery,
head injury etc.) or nontraumatic
injury derived from either an internal or external source (e.g.
stroke,
brain tumours,
infection,
poisoning,
hypoxia,
ischemia,
encephalopathy or
substance abuse). ABI does not include damage to the brain resulting from
neurodegenerative disorders.