Head Trauma Not Serious? Think Again

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You wake up and head downstairs for a cup of morning coffee, yet once in the kitchen you start perusing the pantry, rummaging in the refrigerator, combing the cupboards, and then suddenly wonder why you are there. Have you had a recent blow to your head? Then you may have just experienced the most common cognitive impairment for head-injured patients – memory loss.

According to the Brain Trauma Foundation, approximately 1.5 million Americans suffer a < a href=http://www.theglicklawfirm.com/brain_injury.html>Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) annually; it is also the major cause of disability worldwide, and results in 52,000 deaths per year. TBI occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain, as with cases that include:

• vehicle accidents
• falls
• sports injuries
• violence

The website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) cites head injury damage as being either: focal – centered in one area of the brain, or diffuse, where more than one area of the brain is involved.

Two types of injuries are found with TBI cases:

1. Closed Head Injuries – occur when the head suddenly and violently hits an object but the object does not break the skull
2. Penetrating Head Injuries – occur when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue

TBI Symptoms

Depending upon the damage to the brain, symptoms of TBI can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Memory loss may be the most common cognitive complaint in TBI patients, but a host of other symptoms may be evident immediately, while others may surface days, weeks or even months after the head trauma. Symptoms with mild TBI cases include:

• Headache
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Change in sleep patterns
• Behavior or mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating, confusion or thinking

Moderate to severe TBI cases may also exhibit headaches that get worse or never go away, as well as some or all of the following symptoms:

• Nausea or repeated vomiting
• Convulsions or seizures
• Inability to awaken from sleep
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness of extremities
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness or agitation

Treating TBI

For those with moderate or severe TBI, medical attention is imperative. While little can be done to reverse the initial damage of brain injuries, medical personnel will focus on stabilizing the patient and preventing further injury. Imaging tests, like X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, are often needed to diagnose and then to give further prognosis for TBI patients. Rehabilitation is often required for moderate to severe TBI patients and typically specialists are called in to create an individualized treatment plan. Therapy is quite common in the following areas:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech/language therapy
• Physiatry (physical medicine)
• Psychology, psychiatry, and
• Social support

If you have had an accident involving a serious head injury and currently suffering disabilities, or are concerned about the possible long-term consequences of such trauma, consulting an attorney that specializes in brain injury cases is important.

Let the experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at Glick Law Firm, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida help you understand the technical aspects of your brain injury and determine the best course of legal action for your condition.