Unfortunately, many people that are involved in an accident, like a car accident, slip and fall accident, etc. have a traumatic brain injury. And, even relatively minor TBIs can have lasting affects on one’s life. Plus, the effects of a TBI could cause additional accidents and injuries, like falls from disorientation or New Haven car accidents caused by drowsy driving. This is why it is so important to know the signs of a TBI.
Causes
First, it is important to understand the causes. Of course, any puncture to the skull can cause a TBI. The causes that are not so obvious though, include any violent blow, jolts to the head and any time of quick or jerky motion to the body. Any time your brain is jostled in your head, it can cause a TBI.
Severity level
The severity of a TBI is often seen in the length of time the effects last. For example, a minor TBI may cause drowsiness, but a severe TBI could result in a long-lasting coma. Though, a severe TBI could only cause momentary loss of consciousness too. This is why, after any accident where you experienced a violent jostle, go to the doctor.
Common TBI symptoms
While these common TBI symptoms can happen immediately to our Hamden, Connecticut, readers, it is not uncommon for TBI symptoms to occur hours, days or even, weeks after the TBI causing event. Common symptoms include speech issues, like not being able to form sentences or saying a word you did not mean to say. For example, you meant to say, “I am okay,” but it comes out as, “baseball wiffleball bat.”
Headaches are also common, as are dietary issues, like an inability to eat or a loss of appetite. Similarly, nausea and vomiting are also quite common.
Consciousness issues can be common as well. This can be persistence drowsiness, or even an inability to sleep. Dizziness and loss of balance are common too.
Sensory symptoms can also develop. This can be blurred vision and changes in smell, like the in ability to smell or smelling things differently. You can also experience ear ringing and taste issues, like a persistent bad taste in your mouth or food tasting different. Tasting metal is a common taste reported, as is a sensitivity to light or sound.
Symptoms that others notice
For our Connecticut readers, if you lost consciousness, other around you may have noticed, but you may not have. Though, cognitive issues may be apparent to others, but not you. This includes severe behavioral changes and mental health issues, including unexplained mood shifts and aggressive behavior. TBIs are complicated, and even this long list of symptoms is not exhaustive.