CBIS EXAM CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST
STUDY GUIDE 2026
ABI - ANS ✔✔An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced
by birth trauma.
Can be TBI, traumatic inertia, or non-traumatic internal insults to the brain.
TBI - ANS ✔✔An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an
external force
TBI - ANS ✔✔Head struck by or against an object
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔• Falls
• Assaults
• Motor vehicle crashes
• Sports and recreation injuries
• Shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma
• Gunshot wounds
• Workplace injuries
• Child abuse
• Domestic violence
• Military actions (blast injury)
Causes for Non-Traumatic Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔• Stroke (hemorrhage or blood clots)
• Infectious disease (encephalitis,meningitis)
• Seizure disorders
• Electric shock/lightning strike
, • Tumors (surgery, radiation, chemo)
• Toxic exposures (substance misuse,ingestion of lead, inhalation of volatileagents)
• Metabolic disorders (insulin shock,diabetic coma, liver and kidney disease)
• Neurotoxic poisoning (carbon monoxidepoisoning, inhalants, lead exposure)
• Lack of oxygen to the brain (neardrowning, airway obstruction,strangulation, cardiopulmonary
arrest,hypoxia, anoxia)
Mild TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC 0-30 min
Not always evident on brain imaging
May have vomiting, dizziness and poor recall
Moderate TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC up to 24 hours
+Neuro sings of brain trauma including skull fracture with contusion or bleeding, focal findings
on EEG and CT scan
Severe TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC of 24 hours or greater
Besides hydrocephalus and edema, what are two other secondary injuries? - ANS ✔✔hypoxia,
anemia, metabolic abnormalities, intracranial HTN, hemorrhages
Five risk factors for brain injury - ANS ✔✔Age, male, alcohol use, domestic violence, and service
in the military
Highest Rates of TBI due to Falls by age group - ANS ✔✔Children 0-4 (50%)
Adults 65 or older (61%)
Highest rate of death from TBI due to falls - ANS ✔✔Adults 75 and older
STUDY GUIDE 2026
ABI - ANS ✔✔An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced
by birth trauma.
Can be TBI, traumatic inertia, or non-traumatic internal insults to the brain.
TBI - ANS ✔✔An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an
external force
TBI - ANS ✔✔Head struck by or against an object
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔• Falls
• Assaults
• Motor vehicle crashes
• Sports and recreation injuries
• Shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma
• Gunshot wounds
• Workplace injuries
• Child abuse
• Domestic violence
• Military actions (blast injury)
Causes for Non-Traumatic Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔• Stroke (hemorrhage or blood clots)
• Infectious disease (encephalitis,meningitis)
• Seizure disorders
• Electric shock/lightning strike
, • Tumors (surgery, radiation, chemo)
• Toxic exposures (substance misuse,ingestion of lead, inhalation of volatileagents)
• Metabolic disorders (insulin shock,diabetic coma, liver and kidney disease)
• Neurotoxic poisoning (carbon monoxidepoisoning, inhalants, lead exposure)
• Lack of oxygen to the brain (neardrowning, airway obstruction,strangulation, cardiopulmonary
arrest,hypoxia, anoxia)
Mild TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC 0-30 min
Not always evident on brain imaging
May have vomiting, dizziness and poor recall
Moderate TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC up to 24 hours
+Neuro sings of brain trauma including skull fracture with contusion or bleeding, focal findings
on EEG and CT scan
Severe TBI - ANS ✔✔LOC of 24 hours or greater
Besides hydrocephalus and edema, what are two other secondary injuries? - ANS ✔✔hypoxia,
anemia, metabolic abnormalities, intracranial HTN, hemorrhages
Five risk factors for brain injury - ANS ✔✔Age, male, alcohol use, domestic violence, and service
in the military
Highest Rates of TBI due to Falls by age group - ANS ✔✔Children 0-4 (50%)
Adults 65 or older (61%)
Highest rate of death from TBI due to falls - ANS ✔✔Adults 75 and older
