Welcome to the 3rd issue of HEAR for 2018. The purpose of the Health Evidence Awareness Report is to provide specialised information to health professionals, patients and the public about specific health topics. Each issue is a result of the collaboration of librarians from health organisations across Ireland. This issue looks at some aspects of traumatic brain injury and concussion.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild” (i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after the injury). Most TBIs that occur each year are mild, commonly called concussions.
Concussion
Concussion is defined by the HSE as “the sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head. The medical term for concussion is minor traumatic brain injury”. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, brief loss of consciousness, vision disturbance HSE A-Z Health Topics Concussion
View volume 4, issue 3 on LENUS