Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Though closed head injuries are not objectively apparent at the time of an accident, common indications of an injury are loss of consciousness, inability to recall events immediately before or after the accident, and alteration in mental state immediately following, such as feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused. After an accident, common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury in adults may be any of the following:

• persistent neck pain
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• lapses in attention, perception, judgment, or information processing
• difficulty with memory, concentration, or decision making
• trouble with cognition, abstract concepts, and time and space relationship
• limitations on reading and writing skills
• slowness in thinking, speaking, or taking action
• getting lost or easily confused
• persistent low-grade headaches
• feeling tired all the time, lacking energy or motivation
• problems associated with sleep, such as insomnia or oversleeping
• reduced strength, endurance, and coordination
• onset of tremors or swallowing problems
• feeling light-headed or dizzy
• onset of seizures
• volatility in your mood – apathy, irritability, anxiety, and/or depression
• difficulty maintaining your balance
• increased sensitivity to sounds, light, or distractions
• blurred vision
• reduction of sense of smell or taste

Because children are less aware of their habits and normal functioning than adults, it is important for adults to monitor children carefully if it is suspected that they are suffering from a TBI. Symptoms to look for in children include:

• loss of energy or tiring easily
• reduced interest in favorite toys or activities
• irritability or crankiness
• changes in eating or sleeping patterns
• changes in the manner in which the child plays, both alone and with others
• difficulties at school
• deterioration of recently learned skills
• loss of balance, or instability while walking

The exact effects on an individual who suffers a brain injury will vary greatly, depending on the force of impact the brain suffered and the location(s) of the injury on the brain. It is important to obtain a thorough medical examination following any accident so as to immediately determine all injuries received. To appreciate the extent of an injury, it is helpful to understand medical scales used to measure injuries involving TBI.

The Glasgow Coma Scale rates a patient’s ability to open his/her eyes, and respond to verbal commands and responses. Each level of response indicates the degree of brain injury.

TBI Statistics

Using national data from 1995-2001, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a federal research agency, estimates that 1.4 million people sustain a TBI in the United States each year:

• 1.1 million people are treated and released from hospital emergency departments
• 235,000 people are hospitalized and survive
• 50,000 people die

The leading causes of TBIs are:

• Falls (28%);
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
• Struck by/against events (19%); and
• Assaults (11%)

Outcome The severity of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). An estimated 5.3 million Americans are living today with a TBI-related disability and require help performing daily activities. TBIs can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, or emotions.

About 75% of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBIs. Repeated mild TBIs occurring over an extended period of time (i.e., months, years) can result in cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits. Repeated mild TBIs occurring within a short period of time (i.e., hours, days, or weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal.