According to the Mayo Clinic a Traumatic Brain Injury can happen after a violent blow or jolt to the body or head. Something that penetrates the brain can also cause traumatic brain injury. This can occur from objects like a bullet or a fractured piece of skull. Mild traumatic brain injuries can harm brain cells temporarily while more serious traumatic brain injury can cause bruising, bleeding, torn tissue and other damage to the brain. These more serious traumatic brain injuries can result in long term health problems and possible death.
Mild traumatic brain injury
The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include:
Physical symptoms
- Loss of consciousness
- Dazed, confused or disoriented
- Headache
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Speech problems
- Sleep disturbance
- Sleeping more than normal
- Dizziness or balance issues
Sensory symptoms
- Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or lack of smell sensation
- Light or sound sensitivity
Cognitive or mental symptoms
- Memory and concentration issues
- Mood swings
- Depression or feeling anxious
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury as well as the symptoms below:
Physical symptoms
- Loss of consciousness
- Constant headache
- Nausea
- Convulsions and seizures
- Pupil dialation
- Fluids coming from the nose or ears
- Problems awakening from sleep
- Fingers and toes numbness or tingling
- Reduced coordination
Cognitive or mental symptoms
- Confusion
- Bad behavior like agitation and combativeness
- Impaired speech
- Unconsciousness
Causes
Traumatic brain injury can be caused by a blow or other traumatic injury to the head or body.
Common events causing traumatic brain injury include the following:
- Falls
- Car accidents
- Fights
- Injuries while engaging in sports
- Explosions and injuries sustained during war
- Penetrating wounds, blows to the head, falls or collisions with objects following an explosion.
Risk factors
The people most at risk of traumatic brain injury include:
- Children,
- Newborns to 4-year-olds
- 15 to 24 year olds
- Adults 60 years of age and older
- Males
Intellectual problems
Brained injured people will experience changes in their thinking (cognitive) skills. Difficulty focusing and taking longer to think. Traumatic brain injury cause issues with skills, for example:
Cognitive problems
- Memory
- Learning
- Reasoning
- Judgment
- Concentration
Executive functioning problems
- Problem-solving
- Handling more than one task at a time
- Organization
- Planning
- Decision-making
- Starting and finishing tasks
Communication problems
Brain injuries can cause language and communications issues.
Communication problems may include:
Cognitive problems
- Problems understanding speech or writing
- Problems speaking or writing
- Inability to organize thoughts and ideas
- Problems having conversations
Social problems
- Problems taking or topic selection in conversations
- Problems with changes in tone, pitch or emphasis to express emotions, attitudes or subtle differences in meaning
- Problems understanding nonverbal signals
- Problems reading cues from listeners
- Problems starting or stopping conversations
- Problems using the muscles needed to form words (dysarthria)
Behavioral changes
People who’ve experienced brain injury often experience changes in behaviors. These may include:
- Self-control
- Awareness of abilities
- Engage in risky behavior
- Awkward in social situations
- Have verbal or physical outbursts
Emotional changes
Emotional changes may include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Lack of empathy for others
- Anger
- Insomnia
Sensory problems
Problems involving senses may include:
- Ringing in the ears
- Inability to recognize things
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Vision problems
- Impaired taste and smell senses
- Tingling, painful or itching skin
- Problems with balance and dizziness
Attorney Richard Washington represents people injured or killed in Auto Accidents, Slip, Trip and Fall Down Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability and Long Term Disability Claims in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, D.C. and Minnesota, including Philadelphia County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Berks County, Dauphin County, and Lehigh County.
The law firm also represents clients regarding Estates, Wills and Probate. Attorney Richard Washington represents individuals charged with crimes including DUI, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, underage drinking, assault, and possession of drugs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, D.C. and Minnesota, including Philadelphia County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Berks County, Dauphin County, and Lehigh County.
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