Acquired Brain Injury in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any type of brain damage that occurs after birth. In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, ABI is a significant cause of disability in adults, especially as people age.

Two-thirds of people living with an acquired brain injury who have limitations in daily activities are over age 45, and about one-third are over 65. The largest age group affected is between 40 and 49. At nearly all ages (except 80 and older), men are affected at higher rates than women.

In Grand Rapids, major health systems such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health regularly diagnose, treat, and support patients with acquired brain injuries.

What Is an Acquired Brain Injury?

An acquired brain injury is any damage to the brain that happens after birth and is not related to a congenital (present at birth) condition or a progressive birth-related disorder.

The specific symptoms and loss of function depend on which areas of the brain are affected and how severe the damage is.

Common causes of ABI include:

  • Physical injury (trauma)

    • Motor vehicle crashes (especially during icy Michigan winters)
    • Falls (including on snow and ice)
    • Sports injuries (football, hockey, cycling, skiing, snowboarding)
    • Assaults or fights

  • Stroke

    • When a blood vessel in the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke)
    • This cuts off blood flow and oxygen, damaging local brain tissue

  • Lack of oxygen (anoxic or hypoxic brain injury)

    • Near drowning (a concern around West Michigan lakes and rivers)
    • Cardiac arrest
    • Suffocation or severe asthma attacks
    • Some suicide attempts

  • Infections

    • Meningitis or encephalitis
    • Severe systemic infections that affect the brain

  • Alcohol or drug use

    • Overdose or poisoning
    • Long-term heavy alcohol or substance use that damages brain tissue

  • Disease and degenerative conditions

    • Brain tumors
    • Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
    • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • HIV/AIDS-related brain disease

These causes can be grouped into:

  • Sudden onset ABI – from trauma, stroke, infection, lack of oxygen, or drug use episodes
  • Insidious (gradual) onset ABI – from long-term alcohol or substance abuse, tumors, or degenerative neurological diseases

How the Brain Works

The brain is the control center of the body, even though it makes up only about 2% of total body weight. It is a soft, jelly-like organ with billions of nerve cells (neurons) and trillions of connections.

  • It works through electrical and chemical signals.
  • It controls movement, sensation, thinking, emotions, speech, memory, and behavior.
  • It gives us our consciousness and personality.

The brain is:

  • Divided into two hemispheres – left and right
  • Suspended in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which nourishes the brain and acts as a shock absorber
  • Connected to the rest of the body through the spinal cord

Together, the brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system.

Brain Lobes and Their Functions

Each hemisphere is divided into lobes, and different lobes handle different functions:

  • Frontal lobe – planning, decision-making, personality, movement, impulse control
  • Parietal lobe – sensation (touch, temperature, pain), spatial awareness
  • Temporal lobe – hearing, language understanding, memory
  • Occipital lobe – vision
  • Cerebellum – balance and coordination
  • Brainstem – breathing, heart rate, wakefulness

Damage to any of these areas can cause specific problems, which is why symptoms of acquired brain injury vary widely from person to person.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) vs. Head Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of acquired brain injury caused by an external force to the head.

  • A head injury may involve cuts, bruises, or fractures to the scalp or skull without affecting the brain.
  • A TBI occurs when the brain itself is damaged.

When the head is struck or jolted hard:

  • The brain can slam against the inside of the skull.
  • This can cause:
    • Bruising (contusions)
    • Swelling (edema)
    • Bleeding (hemorrhage)
    • Twisting or tearing of brain tissue and nerve fibers

TBI severity ranges from:

  • Mild – brief loss of consciousness or confusion (like a concussion from a fall on ice or a sports hit)
  • Moderate to severe – longer loss of consciousness, coma, or significant brain swelling and bleeding

In Grand Rapids, emergency departments at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and other local hospitals routinely evaluate and treat TBI, especially during winter months when falls and car crashes increase.

Symptoms and Effects of Acquired Brain Injury

The long-term effects of brain injury are difficult to predict. They vary from mild to profound and depend on the type, location, and severity of the injury, as well as the person’s age and overall health.

Common effects include:

Cognitive (Thinking) Changes

  • Slower information processing
  • Trouble concentrating or paying attention
  • Difficulty planning, organizing, and solving problems
  • Memory problems (short-term or long-term)
  • Difficulty learning new information

Physical Changes

  • Fatigue (mental and physical) – very common
  • Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
  • Problems with balance and coordination
  • Headaches
  • Changes in vision, hearing, taste, or smell
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Seizures in some cases

Emotional and Behavioral Changes

  • Irritability or anger
  • Mood swings
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Impulsiveness or poor judgment
  • Changes in personality
  • Reduced motivation or initiative

Communication and Social Changes

  • Difficulty finding words or understanding language
  • Trouble following conversations, especially in noisy environments
  • Social withdrawal or isolation
  • Changes in relationships with family, friends, and coworkers

These challenges can significantly affect work, school, driving, parenting, and daily activities. In Grand Rapids, this may mean needing to adjust work roles in local manufacturing, healthcare, education, or service jobs, or needing support for returning to college at institutions like Grand Valley State University or Grand Rapids Community College.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Injury in Grand Rapids

How Brain Injury Is Diagnosed

Healthcare providers in Grand Rapids use a range of tests to assess acquired brain injury:

  • Medical history and physical exam
  • Neurological exam (reflexes, strength, sensation, balance, coordination)
  • Imaging tests:
    • CT (computed tomography) scans
    • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
  • Neuropsychological testing to evaluate memory, attention, and thinking skills

These services are available at major Grand Rapids hospitals and imaging centers, including Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and affiliated outpatient clinics.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the cause, location, and severity of the brain injury:

  • Emergency care and stabilization

    • Managing breathing, blood pressure, and brain swelling
    • Surgery in some cases (for bleeding, swelling, or skull fractures)

  • Medications

    • To control pain, seizures, muscle spasticity, mood, or sleep problems

  • Rehabilitation (rehab) – often the most important long-term treatment:

    • Physical therapy – strength, balance, mobility
    • Occupational therapy – daily living skills (dressing, cooking, managing home and work tasks)
    • Speech-language therapy – communication, swallowing, cognitive-communication skills
    • Neuropsychology and counseling – coping strategies, mood, behavior, and family support
    • Vocational rehabilitation – returning to work or retraining for new roles

In the Grand Rapids area, brain injury rehabilitation services are offered through:

  • Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (regional leader in brain injury rehab)
  • Rehabilitation programs within Corewell Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Outpatient therapy clinics across Kent County

Recovery from acquired brain injury can continue for months or years. Early treatment and high-quality rehabilitation improve outcomes, but many people live with some long-term changes.

Living With Acquired Brain Injury in Grand Rapids

The impact of an acquired brain injury goes far beyond medical symptoms. It affects:

  • Intimate relationships and marriages
  • Friendships and social networks
  • Parenting roles and family responsibilities
  • Recreational activities (including outdoor sports that are popular in West Michigan)
  • Education and employment

Many families in Grand Rapids find they must adapt to a completely new way of life, including new routines, expectations, and roles.

Emotional Impact on Families and Caregivers

Family members and caregivers often experience:

  • Grief over the “loss” of the person as they were before the injury
  • Stress from new caregiving responsibilities
  • Financial strain if the person cannot return to work
  • Changes in family roles and dynamics
  • Social isolation

Caring for someone with a brain injury can:

  • Bring families closer together, as they support each other
  • Or create significant stress and conflict, especially without adequate support

Tips for Families and Caregivers

For families in Grand Rapids coping with acquired brain injury, it can help to:

  • Understand that recovery is a slow, often uneven process

    • Progress may come in small steps
    • Set realistic expectations

  • Get good information about ABI

    • Ask questions at appointments
    • Request written instructions and resources
    • Learn about your loved one’s specific type of injury

  • Focus on the present, not just the future

    • Avoid constantly imagining worst-case scenarios
    • Take things one day, one week, or one month at a time

  • Highlight strengths and daily achievements

    • Celebrate small gains (walking a bit farther, remembering more, handling a new task)
    • Avoid focusing only on what has been lost

  • Take care of yourself as a caregiver

    • Schedule time for rest, hobbies, and your own health appointments
    • Ask other family members, friends, or community resources for help
    • Consider caregiver support groups (many are available in West Michigan, including virtual options)

  • Ask for help when needed

    • From healthcare teams, social workers, case managers, and community organizations
    • From local faith communities and neighborhood networks

Local Resources for Acquired Brain Injury in Grand Rapids

If you or a loved one is living with an acquired brain injury in Grand Rapids, consider these resources:

  • Primary care provider or family doctor

    • First contact for evaluation, referrals, and ongoing care

  • Neurologist or neurosurgeon

    • Specialists in brain and nervous system conditions

  • Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (Grand Rapids)

    • Comprehensive brain injury rehabilitation programs

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) and Trinity Health Grand Rapids

    • Emergency care, inpatient care, neurology, neurosurgery, and rehab services

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Public health information, community resources, and support services

  • Grand Rapids Public Health / City of Grand Rapids resources

    • Local health and wellness programs, disability resources

  • Michigan-specific organizations (searchable online):

    • Brain injury support groups in West Michigan
    • Statewide brain injury associations and advocacy groups
    • Vocational rehabilitation services through Michigan Rehabilitation Services

If you suspect a stroke, severe head injury, or sudden change in consciousness, call 911 immediately. Fast treatment can save brain function and lives.

Key Points About Acquired Brain Injury in Grand Rapids

  • Acquired brain injury (ABI) is any brain damage that occurs after birth.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of ABI caused by an impact or jolt to the head.
  • Causes of ABI include disease, blows to the head, alcohol and drug use, stroke, infection, tumors, and oxygen deprivation.
  • Symptoms and loss of function depend on which brain areas are affected and how severe the injury is.
  • Long-term effects can include fatigue, cognitive problems, physical limitations, and changes in behavior and personality.
  • Treatment in Grand Rapids typically involves emergency care, medical management, and specialized rehabilitation through local hospitals and rehab centers.
  • Coping with acquired brain injury is challenging for both the person and their family, but education, support, and local resources in Grand Rapids can make a significant difference.