After an accident, you may believe that the symptoms you experience are not a concern. Headaches and difficulty sleeping may be the result of stress. Pain or stiffness may be the result of bruising. However, some symptoms may indicate that something more serious has occurred. What symptoms could indicate that you or a loved one experienced a serious brain injury?
What are the cognitive and sensory symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
Because of the sensitive nature of the brain, injuries can impact a person’s ability to think clearly, their emotions and the way they experience the world. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can include:
- Loss of consciousness, ranging from a few seconds or minutes of lost consciousness to coma
- Confusion or disorientation
- Feelings of depression, anxiety, agitation and other mood changes
- Difficulty concentrating or problems with memory
- Changes to sleep patterns, including insomnia, sleeping less than usual, sleeping more than usual or a feeling of fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light and sound
What are the physical symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
In addition to cognitive and sensory symptoms, traumatic brain injuries can create a variety of physical symptoms including pain and loss of coordination. These physical symptoms may include:
- Headaches, especially headaches that worsen over time
- Slurred speech and other issues
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weakness or numbness in body extremities
- Dilation of one or both pupils
- Dizziness or loss of coordination
Because the symptoms of brain injuries can take hours or days to appear, it is particularly important for people to seek medical attention after a head injury. Early medical intervention can ensure that the cause of that accident is documented, that doctors fully assess the injury and that patients can receive the treatment they need to protect their health.