CBIS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST
STUDY GUIDE 2026
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) - ANS ✔✔injury that occurs after birth and includes injuries caused
by external physical forces and those caused by internal insults to the brain
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - ANS ✔✔Alternation to brain function caused by external forces
What are the 4 types of acquired brain injury? - ANS ✔✔1. traumatic impact- open
2. traumatic impact- closed
3. traumatic inertial - DAI
4. non-traumatic injuries
coup-countercoup injury - ANS ✔✔with a blow to the head, the initial contusion/ laceration will
occur beneath point of impact (coup) and then occur on the contralateral to the site of initial
impact (countercoup)
Why is brain injury called the "silent epidemic"? - ANS ✔✔Many deficits caused by brain injury
can be invisible (not immediately apparent)
What are primary injuries? - ANS ✔✔the INITIAL damage to the brain as a result of a traumatic
event
examples:
-laceration
-contusion
-torn blood vessels
-acceleration/deceleration (coup/contracoup)
,-foreign object penetration
What are common secondary injuries? - ANS ✔✔1. hydrocephalus
2. edema
3. hypoxia intracranial hemorrhages
Mild LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔brief of no LOC
Moderate LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔LOC up to 24 hours
Severe LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔LOC greater than 24 hours
List 5 risk factors for brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. Age (15-19, 20-24, 65+)
2. alcohol use
3. military action
4. domestic violence
5. prisons
6. sport-injury
Age Groups with Highest Rates of Brain Injury due to Falls - ANS ✔✔(0-4 years old) 50% of all
TBIs
(65+ years old) 61% of all TBIs
Age Group with Highest Rate of Death from TBI - ANS ✔✔Adults 75+ years old
Highest Rates of Death from TBI (all causes) - ANS ✔✔Adults 75+ years old
,Highest Rates of Death from TBI (Firearms) - ANS ✔✔Adults 20-24 years old and Adults 75+
years old
Percentage of Children with TBI from Physical Abuse - ANS ✔✔67% (0-3 years old)
Highest Rate of TBI from MVAs - ANS ✔✔Adults 20-24 years old
Highest Rates of TBI Deaths from MVAs - ANS ✔✔Teenagers 16-19 years old
Is the progression along the continuum of care linear? - ANS ✔✔No, due to risk factors,
comorbidities, medical complications, treatment options, funding, etc.
Who establishes standards for rehabilitation facilities? - ANS ✔✔Commission on Accreditation
of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Olmstead Decision - ANS ✔✔Requires states to administer services, programs, and activities, in
the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
- increased opportunities for federal and state initiatives that make community living more
accessible
What agency funds the TBI Model Systems? - ANS ✔✔US Dept of Health and Human Services
Why is TBIMS data important? - ANS ✔✔increases understanding of recovery and outcomes of
TBI via longitudinal studies
What is meant by disease-causative and disease- alternative? - ANS ✔✔Brain injuries due not
maintain a static state. TBI can both cause disease or accelerate disease down the road. Chronic
progressive conditions.
, These 4 conditions cause individuals with brain injury to be at an increased risk of death (4
reasons) - ANS ✔✔1. seizures
2. pneumonia
3. respiratory problems
4. circulatory problems
Name 2 neurological conditions associated with brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. epilepsy
2. Alzheimer's - CTE
Name 3 neuro-endocrine disorders associated with brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. Growth Hormone
insufficiency
2. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
3. Gonadotropin deficiency
P-A-D (meninges) - ANS ✔✔1. pia mater
2. arachnoid
3. dura mater
What are the 3 parts of a neuron? - ANS ✔✔1. cell body
2. axon
3. dendrites
What is the function of the blood brain barrier? - ANS ✔✔Ensures that harmful substances can
not pass through the membrane and harm the brain
STUDY GUIDE 2026
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) - ANS ✔✔injury that occurs after birth and includes injuries caused
by external physical forces and those caused by internal insults to the brain
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - ANS ✔✔Alternation to brain function caused by external forces
What are the 4 types of acquired brain injury? - ANS ✔✔1. traumatic impact- open
2. traumatic impact- closed
3. traumatic inertial - DAI
4. non-traumatic injuries
coup-countercoup injury - ANS ✔✔with a blow to the head, the initial contusion/ laceration will
occur beneath point of impact (coup) and then occur on the contralateral to the site of initial
impact (countercoup)
Why is brain injury called the "silent epidemic"? - ANS ✔✔Many deficits caused by brain injury
can be invisible (not immediately apparent)
What are primary injuries? - ANS ✔✔the INITIAL damage to the brain as a result of a traumatic
event
examples:
-laceration
-contusion
-torn blood vessels
-acceleration/deceleration (coup/contracoup)
,-foreign object penetration
What are common secondary injuries? - ANS ✔✔1. hydrocephalus
2. edema
3. hypoxia intracranial hemorrhages
Mild LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔brief of no LOC
Moderate LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔LOC up to 24 hours
Severe LOC may last how long? - ANS ✔✔LOC greater than 24 hours
List 5 risk factors for brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. Age (15-19, 20-24, 65+)
2. alcohol use
3. military action
4. domestic violence
5. prisons
6. sport-injury
Age Groups with Highest Rates of Brain Injury due to Falls - ANS ✔✔(0-4 years old) 50% of all
TBIs
(65+ years old) 61% of all TBIs
Age Group with Highest Rate of Death from TBI - ANS ✔✔Adults 75+ years old
Highest Rates of Death from TBI (all causes) - ANS ✔✔Adults 75+ years old
,Highest Rates of Death from TBI (Firearms) - ANS ✔✔Adults 20-24 years old and Adults 75+
years old
Percentage of Children with TBI from Physical Abuse - ANS ✔✔67% (0-3 years old)
Highest Rate of TBI from MVAs - ANS ✔✔Adults 20-24 years old
Highest Rates of TBI Deaths from MVAs - ANS ✔✔Teenagers 16-19 years old
Is the progression along the continuum of care linear? - ANS ✔✔No, due to risk factors,
comorbidities, medical complications, treatment options, funding, etc.
Who establishes standards for rehabilitation facilities? - ANS ✔✔Commission on Accreditation
of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Olmstead Decision - ANS ✔✔Requires states to administer services, programs, and activities, in
the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
- increased opportunities for federal and state initiatives that make community living more
accessible
What agency funds the TBI Model Systems? - ANS ✔✔US Dept of Health and Human Services
Why is TBIMS data important? - ANS ✔✔increases understanding of recovery and outcomes of
TBI via longitudinal studies
What is meant by disease-causative and disease- alternative? - ANS ✔✔Brain injuries due not
maintain a static state. TBI can both cause disease or accelerate disease down the road. Chronic
progressive conditions.
, These 4 conditions cause individuals with brain injury to be at an increased risk of death (4
reasons) - ANS ✔✔1. seizures
2. pneumonia
3. respiratory problems
4. circulatory problems
Name 2 neurological conditions associated with brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. epilepsy
2. Alzheimer's - CTE
Name 3 neuro-endocrine disorders associated with brain injury - ANS ✔✔1. Growth Hormone
insufficiency
2. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
3. Gonadotropin deficiency
P-A-D (meninges) - ANS ✔✔1. pia mater
2. arachnoid
3. dura mater
What are the 3 parts of a neuron? - ANS ✔✔1. cell body
2. axon
3. dendrites
What is the function of the blood brain barrier? - ANS ✔✔Ensures that harmful substances can
not pass through the membrane and harm the brain
