CBIS 6.0 TEST STUDY GUIDE CHAPTERS 1–4 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CERTIFIED BRAIN
INJURY SPECIALIST REVIEW 2026
Define Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) - ANS ✔✔occurs after birth and includes injuries caused by
external physical forces and those caused by internal insult. (Umbrella definition)
Three Types of Acquired Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔1. Traumatic Impact 2. Traumatic Inertial 3. Non-
traumatic
Define Traumatic Impact and its Primary Injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔Is a contact injury which is
when the head is struck by/against an object and it can be closed (Non-penetrating) or Open
(Penetrating)
Define Traumatic Inertial and its Primary injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔Is a non-contact injury
where the brain moves within the skull and it can be due to rotational/angular forces and
acceleration/deceleration forces.
Define non-traumatic and its primary injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔is a injury due to an internal
insult and can its primary is sever blood flow reduction and/or hemorrhage due to clotting.
Traumatic impact closed injury causes - ANS ✔✔Blast related, assaults, falls, vehicle/sports
accidents.
Traumatic impact open injury causes - ANS ✔✔Gunshot/stabbing, falls, and vehicle/sports
accidents.
Traumatic Inertial Injury causes - ANS ✔✔Falls, Automobile accidents and sports accidents.
Non-Traumatic Injury causes - ANS ✔✔Stroke, Neurotoxic poisoning, hypoxia/anoxia, ischemia,
infection, tumors.
,What are 3 reasons a person with a BI is at risk for developing a significant disability? - ANS
✔✔1. Awareness and understanding about brain injury remain limited 2. brain injury is
frequently not identified. 3. treatment is not always readily available.
Why is brain injury called a "silent epidemic" - ANS ✔✔1. Many of the problems that follow BI
(memory/attention/thinking skills) are not always immediately apparent. 2. Many individuals
living with BI have not been accurately diagnosed or can afford access to rehabilitative
treatment.
Define diffuse axonal injury (DAI) - ANS ✔✔When axons are damaged due to tearing or shearing
causing widespread damage of white matter tracts in the brain. Also known as a multi-focal
injury. Can happen during a traumatic inertial injury when rotational/angular forces are applied.
Define Coup-contrecoup injury - ANS ✔✔When there is an initial blow to the head due to rapid
acceleration/deceleration, (Coup) and then a second blow on the opposite side (contralateral)
(Contrecoup).
Define Closed Injury - ANS ✔✔Non-penetrating injury (lacerations/contusions or intercerebral
hemorrhages) can be Focal or Diffuse.
Two Types of Injury classifications - ANS ✔✔Focal: When a contusion or laceration occurs
directly beneath the point of impact. ex.) epidural/subdural hematomas
Diffused: More widespread damage due to tearing/shearing of axons.
What is a major complicating factor in open injuries? - ANS ✔✔secondary infection due to
skull/meningeal breach
, How to brain injuries get categorized? - ANS ✔✔According to the etiology (Cause) of the
primary injury
Define Secondary injury - ANS ✔✔is the pathophysiological events that occur after the primary
injury and causes additional cellular damage/death.
Examples of Secondary injuries - ANS ✔✔hypoxia, anemia, metabolic abnormalities,
hydrocephalus, intracranial hypertension =, hemorrhagic activity, release of excitatory amino
acids, oxidative free-radical production, release of arachidonic acid metabolites (inflammatory
response) and disrupt neurotransmitters.
According to the CDC, what is the leading cause of Brain Injury? - ANS ✔✔Falls
How many people live with long-term disabilities from a TBI in the US? - ANS ✔✔3.17 million
In injury related deaths in the US, TBI is a contributing factor in.... - ANS ✔✔a third
Who is most likely to be hospitalized or die from TBI? - ANS ✔✔75+ (32% of hospitalizations and
28% of deaths)
Female TBI Statistics - ANS ✔✔Female are two times less likely to be hospitalized and 3 times
less likely to die.
Risk factors for brain injury and indicators on how it might affects ones life? - ANS ✔✔Injury
severity, age at injury, substance use, intimate partner violence, service in the military, and
participation in sports.
For individuals who already have a brain injury how does the risk increase? - ANS ✔✔2nd TBI 3x
greater, 3rd TBI is 8x greater
INJURY SPECIALIST REVIEW 2026
Define Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) - ANS ✔✔occurs after birth and includes injuries caused by
external physical forces and those caused by internal insult. (Umbrella definition)
Three Types of Acquired Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔1. Traumatic Impact 2. Traumatic Inertial 3. Non-
traumatic
Define Traumatic Impact and its Primary Injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔Is a contact injury which is
when the head is struck by/against an object and it can be closed (Non-penetrating) or Open
(Penetrating)
Define Traumatic Inertial and its Primary injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔Is a non-contact injury
where the brain moves within the skull and it can be due to rotational/angular forces and
acceleration/deceleration forces.
Define non-traumatic and its primary injury Mechanism - ANS ✔✔is a injury due to an internal
insult and can its primary is sever blood flow reduction and/or hemorrhage due to clotting.
Traumatic impact closed injury causes - ANS ✔✔Blast related, assaults, falls, vehicle/sports
accidents.
Traumatic impact open injury causes - ANS ✔✔Gunshot/stabbing, falls, and vehicle/sports
accidents.
Traumatic Inertial Injury causes - ANS ✔✔Falls, Automobile accidents and sports accidents.
Non-Traumatic Injury causes - ANS ✔✔Stroke, Neurotoxic poisoning, hypoxia/anoxia, ischemia,
infection, tumors.
,What are 3 reasons a person with a BI is at risk for developing a significant disability? - ANS
✔✔1. Awareness and understanding about brain injury remain limited 2. brain injury is
frequently not identified. 3. treatment is not always readily available.
Why is brain injury called a "silent epidemic" - ANS ✔✔1. Many of the problems that follow BI
(memory/attention/thinking skills) are not always immediately apparent. 2. Many individuals
living with BI have not been accurately diagnosed or can afford access to rehabilitative
treatment.
Define diffuse axonal injury (DAI) - ANS ✔✔When axons are damaged due to tearing or shearing
causing widespread damage of white matter tracts in the brain. Also known as a multi-focal
injury. Can happen during a traumatic inertial injury when rotational/angular forces are applied.
Define Coup-contrecoup injury - ANS ✔✔When there is an initial blow to the head due to rapid
acceleration/deceleration, (Coup) and then a second blow on the opposite side (contralateral)
(Contrecoup).
Define Closed Injury - ANS ✔✔Non-penetrating injury (lacerations/contusions or intercerebral
hemorrhages) can be Focal or Diffuse.
Two Types of Injury classifications - ANS ✔✔Focal: When a contusion or laceration occurs
directly beneath the point of impact. ex.) epidural/subdural hematomas
Diffused: More widespread damage due to tearing/shearing of axons.
What is a major complicating factor in open injuries? - ANS ✔✔secondary infection due to
skull/meningeal breach
, How to brain injuries get categorized? - ANS ✔✔According to the etiology (Cause) of the
primary injury
Define Secondary injury - ANS ✔✔is the pathophysiological events that occur after the primary
injury and causes additional cellular damage/death.
Examples of Secondary injuries - ANS ✔✔hypoxia, anemia, metabolic abnormalities,
hydrocephalus, intracranial hypertension =, hemorrhagic activity, release of excitatory amino
acids, oxidative free-radical production, release of arachidonic acid metabolites (inflammatory
response) and disrupt neurotransmitters.
According to the CDC, what is the leading cause of Brain Injury? - ANS ✔✔Falls
How many people live with long-term disabilities from a TBI in the US? - ANS ✔✔3.17 million
In injury related deaths in the US, TBI is a contributing factor in.... - ANS ✔✔a third
Who is most likely to be hospitalized or die from TBI? - ANS ✔✔75+ (32% of hospitalizations and
28% of deaths)
Female TBI Statistics - ANS ✔✔Female are two times less likely to be hospitalized and 3 times
less likely to die.
Risk factors for brain injury and indicators on how it might affects ones life? - ANS ✔✔Injury
severity, age at injury, substance use, intimate partner violence, service in the military, and
participation in sports.
For individuals who already have a brain injury how does the risk increase? - ANS ✔✔2nd TBI 3x
greater, 3rd TBI is 8x greater
