There are many types of disability, and all have a significant impact on the lives of those who have them. Disability can result from a wide range of conditions, including injuries, and the disability that will be the subject of this essay is traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is defined as a brain injury caused by trauma to the head, usually resulting from an accident such as a motor vehicle collision or fall. Head injuries are classified as severe when a period of unconsciousness follows an injury that exceeds 6 hours, as well as a period of post-traumatic amnesia lasting at least 24 hours (Headway, 2017). Head trauma in each case leads to a wide range of consequences and symptoms, which can vary considerably depending on the location and severity of the injury. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay However, there are certain effects that are commonly reported by head injury patients, one of them being fatigue. Mental fatigue, defined as feeling tired and an inability to think clearly or concentrate (Brainline, 2017), has been described as one of the most common problematic symptoms of traumatic brain injury, and although fatigue can occur Although it improves as the patient recovers from the head injury, it often persists. Fatigue could be because the brain needs more energy to function and heal after an injury (Brainline, 2017). Research has shown that patients with head injury experience significantly higher levels of fatigue than those without head injury, and this finding is consistently based on subjective and objective measures of fatigue (LaChapelle & Finlayson, 1998). This essay will discuss the impact that fatigue associated with traumatic brain injury can have on an individual's health and well-being, as well as attempts to define the concepts of disability, health and well-being. In the UK, disability was defined in the Equality Act 2010 as “a physical or mental impairment which has a significant and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal daily activities” (Gov .uk, 2010). This definition is practical when attempting to classify a person as disabled and corresponds to a medical model of disability. The medical model explains that individuals are disabled due to impairments or difficulties they experience and that for these to be overcome, any impairment must be treated (Scope, 2017). The medical model has been criticized as focusing on curing an individual even if the impairment causes them no discomfort, and failing to take into account their actual needs. This can lead to a lack of independence and a loss of control over their lives (Scope, 2017). The second definition of disability, which offers a different perspective, comes from the World Health Organization (WHO) and defines disability more generally, stating that it is "an umbrella term covering impairments , activity limitations and participation restrictions” (WHO, 2017). This explanation avoids considering disability as a simple health problem and is more consistent with a social model of disability, according to which individuals are disabled because the society in which they live creates obstacles to their needs. From a social model perspective, these societal barriers must be removed or modified for the limitations to be overcome, and these barriers may include physical barriers, such as access to abuilding, as well as societal attitudes towards people with disabilities (Scope, 2017). ). The social model has advantages over the medical model in that it takes into account individual needs and requires that society be accessible to all. However, one criticism of the social model is that it may overlook an impairment that causes pain or difficulty and therefore might benefit from treatment (Shakespeare, 2016). Each definition and model of disability has its own merits and criticisms, and problems with defining disability can arise from trying to define many unique experiences and difficulties under one term, whereas the concept of disability can be intrinsically subjective (Gronvik, 2009). Since its constitution in 1948, the WHO has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 2006). This definition of health has been praised because it is not negative and encompasses many aspects of health. However, criticisms of it focus on the word “complete”, which is difficult to measure and which leads to people living with chronic illnesses or disabilities being characterized as always in poor health (Huber, 2011). The WHO definition was questioned by Huber (2011), who introduced the idea of ​​health as an individual's ability to cope with challenges in different areas of life, such as physical, social and emotional (Huber, 2011). Huber's definition focuses more on how unique circumstances can impact an individual's life rather than just the absence of disease or impairments. This essay will discuss health using Huber's definition as a reference and will address the social, physical, and emotional aspects of health. Many attempts to define well-being have been made over the years, and these have often encompassed a sense of fulfillment, goal accomplishment, and a sense of life satisfaction (Dodge, et al., 2012). An example of one of these definitions comes from Shah & Marks (2004), who speak of well-being as feelings of happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment, as well as contribution to society (Marks & Shah, 2004 ). This definition of well-being, and many others like it, have been criticized as being more descriptions than definitions, and because they focus on many subjective dimensions that may underlie the concept of well-being (Dodge, et al., 2012). A definition from Dodge et al. (2012) explains the concept of well-being as being a balance, as a homeostatic mechanism, with a set point of well-being, which can be upset by life challenges or lack of resources, and balance is a balance between the two (Dodge et al., 2012). This definition is simple and does not require the satisfaction of criteria of different dimensions. Furthermore, this aligns with Huber's (2011) definition of health, which emphasizes overcoming and managing challenges, and well-being in this essay will be discussed in accordance with this definition. The first aspect of health that can be affected by post-TBI fatigue is physical health. Important factors for maintaining physical health include physical activity, nutrition, and management of any physical symptoms of illness (Koshuta, 2003). Fatigue causes feelings of weariness, which could affect motivation to participate in factors important for maintaining physical health, such as exercise. Indeed, research has shown that fatigue in patients with head trauma is associated with a lower level of physical activity (Stulemeijer,et al., 2006). Given that lack of physical activity is linked to obesity and cardiovascular and respiratory problems, the importance of being able to be physically active is clear (Gov.uk, 2016). The reduction in physical exercise associated with post-TBI fatigue impacts an individual's health and well-being, as it affects their ability to cope with physical challenges and maintain a state of well-being physical. It can also impact an individual's ability to recover, as physical therapy and exercise are often part of the rehabilitation process after a head injury, especially since these injuries tend to result from accidents or falls (Borgaro et al., 2005). Nutrition is a second way post-TBI fatigue can impact the physical aspect of health and well-being. People who feel tired and unable to concentrate are less likely to feel motivated to cook or buy nutritious foods. Fatigue can lead to activities such as cooking taking much longer, difficulty staying on task or finding the right motivation to prepare food. People who enjoyed cooking before the head injury reported enjoying it less after the head injury due to problems introduced by fatigue (Cantor, et al., 2008). These difficulties may lead an individual to seek out foods such as takeout, which may be unhealthy, or to eat less frequently. Lack of adequate nutrition can lead to susceptibility to illness, weight problems, and other feelings of fatigue in the TBI patient (NHS Choices, 2017). The above challenges faced by fatigued patients after TBI may involve a diminished enjoyment of activities that might have previously been enjoyed, such as exercising or cooking. Reduced enjoyment of activities has been noted in patients with traumatic brain injury as fatigue impacts motivation, with patients reporting that they are unable to initiate or maintain activities and are unable to concentrate on these (Yudofsky et al., 2005). As well as affecting physical health, it can impact other areas such as returning to work or participating in hobbies and social activities. This impacts health as individuals may feel unable to cope with challenges, whether physical or emotional, and disrupt the balance of well-being by not having adequate resources to manage the challenges of the life. In a study conducted on employment rates and return to work after head injury, it was found that patients reporting fatigue were less likely to return to work. Additionally, feelings of fatigue have been reported as a particular difficulty by traumatic brain injury patients who have returned to work (McCrimmon & Oddy, 2006). This could be explained by the effects of fatigue that leave individuals tired and unable to concentrate or feel motivated for work. This impacts an individual's health, as it affects their ability to cope with the demands of work or education, and therefore could limit their satisfaction and progress. To overcome these difficulties in returning to work, consistent with the social model of disability, adjustments could be made. Patients who returned to work after a head injury and experienced fatigue reported that adjustments that were helpful in managing fatigue and encouraging motivation included only having one task at a time on which to concentrate on, the fact of having..