Sleep Disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury When a person suffers
from traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the most common and
significant side effects the patient can experience is a sleep
disorder. TBI causes the biological and electrical rhythm of
sleep to be interrupted. The patient may experience difficulty
sleeping, an altered or changing sleep pattern, or even the need
to sleep for unusually short or long periods after the injury
has occurred. A traumatic brain injury also affects an
individual’s ability to control their breathing, dreaming, and
leg movements during sleep. Recently, researchers have found
that almost half of those who are suffering from a traumatic
brain injury may have a sleep disorder, with the leading cause
being obstructive sleep apnea. Another study concluded that
after a traumatic brain injury has occurred, especially a mild
injury, individuals often experience sleep disturbance,
complicating recovery from the injury as well as relief from the
symptoms. Currently, researchers are