A traumatic brain injury will usually be the result of a violent jolt or blow to the head or body. It can also be caused by an object going through the brain tissue, such as a shattered piece of the skull or a bullet. There are different levels of traumatic brain injuries. A mild traumatic brain injury can have a temporary impact on your brain cells, while on the other hand, a serious traumatic brain injury can cause permanent problems, including cognitive impairment.
Brain Injury Signs
A traumatic brain injury can have a wide range of different symptoms and impacts on your health and behavior. In some cases, symptoms might appear directly after the injury was incurred, while others might appear days or weeks afterwards. In any case, you should get medical attention immediately as it is possible for there to be serious damage present without any symptoms that are obvious. If you believe that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury through no fault of your own, then a brain injury attorney may be able to help.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
Also known as a concussion, a mild traumatic brain injury will usually be accompanied by symptoms such as a headache and feelings of nausea. You may feel drowsier than usual and fatigued, feel dizzy or lose your balance, and you may have issues with your speech. You may lose consciousness after the injury occurs for a few seconds to a few minutes and may experience some sensitivity to light or sound. After a mild traumatic brain injury, you may experience sensory symptoms such as ringing in the ears, blurred vision, or changes to your senses of taste and smell. You may have trouble sleeping, issues with concentration or memory, mood swings and changes, and feel confused, dazed, or disoriented.
Symptoms of a Moderate to Severe Brain Injury
A moderate to severe brain injury can include any of the symptoms that you might experience after a mild brain injury, along with some others that tend to appear in more severe cases. You might lose consciousness for several minutes up to a few hours after the injury, and suffer from a persistent headache, or a headache that gets worse over time. You may experience seizures or convulsions, and repeated nausea with vomiting. A severe brain injury may cause clear fluid to drain from the ears or nose, and one or both pupils may be dilated. You may feel numbness or weakness in your fingers or toes, have trouble waking up from sleep, and problems with or loss of coordination. A moderate to severe brain injury is likely to leave you feeling profoundly confused, and you may experience slurred speech and unusual behavior such as increased combativeness or agitation.
A brain injury is usually incurred through a blow or jolt to the head or body.
While they are typically mild, they can be more severe depending on the injury. Understanding the symptoms and knowing when to get medical attention can save your life.
