Tinnitus can lead to anxiety and depression, and TBI is associated with higher risk of dementiaThe following information was reported in 2011 but it is sobering to read in many ways. Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, for short, is the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We hear that statement a lot. So much that we become a bit immune to what it may often entail and accompany. But troops returning from those theaters of operation don't have the same luxury. A very high percentage have suffered some degree of TBI and the effects will follow them for the rest of their lives. It was reported that returning active-duty personnel may have a twenty percent chance of developing tinnitus, a condition typically thought of as solely a hearing impairment, but which may also involve a disorganization of the brain and the brain's attempt to counter-balance hearing loss with the introduction of a constantly heard (it never goes away) tone or signal. The effects of tinnitus can be mentally devastating. It can cause anxiety and depression (if you think about it, how could it not?) and can destroy an individual's capacity to perform work which requires a persistent level of attention and concentration. In 2008, the Veterans Administration reported that 70,000 vets suffered from tinnitus. It was reported that by Dr. Kristin Yaffe, who directs the Memory Disorders Clinic at the San Francisco VA, presented the findings of a study which found that returning vets may be predisposed to developing dementia in later life. This is in line with research that finds that severe head injuries can result in the onset of dementia many years, even decades, later. My own mother suffers from dementia and so I can relate firsthand with how difficult life will be for the families of affected vets in future years. Providing care for a relative who has even mild dementia in the attempt to avoid (or put off as long as possible) the last resort, a nursing home facility, can pose extraordinary demands upon a family, demands that are physical, mental, emotional, and, of course, financial. Twenty-two percent of all casualties suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan involve Traumatic Brain Injury and vets 55 years of age or older may have double the risk of dementia as a result of a prior injury. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related pages: Applying for Social Security Disability or SSI for Stroke Social Security Disability, back pain, and sedentary, light, and medium work Social Security Disability, SSI, and low IQ How to file for disability in Oklahoma OK Can you qualify for disability with narcolepsy? Can I get disability with anxiety, IBS, asthma, migraines, OCD, bad vision, and depression? Filing a second application for disability Time to get a scheduled disability hearing date, or court date Can you file for disability with Hypothyroidism? Applying for Disability with high blood pressure Going to a disability hearing without a lawyer How is Social Security Disability determined? Medical treatment and a Social Security Disability award Will my children get benefits if I get approved for disability? How much time for a decision on a disability claim? |
