Which of the following is an example of a substantial handicap due to brain injury?

Attention impairment is considered a substantial handicap due to brain injury because it significantly affects a person's ability to focus, concentrate, and sustain attention on tasks. This can impair everyday functioning and impact quality of life, making it difficult for individuals to perform at work or engage socially.

While minor cognitive disruptions, short-term memory lapses, and transient emotional distress can also arise from brain injuries, they typically do not reach the level of severity or impact on daily functioning that attention impairment does. Attention impairment can hinder the ability to process information, follow conversations, and interact appropriately in social situations, thus representing a more substantial and disruptive challenge for those affected.