Traumatic Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are some of the most severe and life-altering accidents that can occur.  If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury in Washington, DC and believe that someone else is liable, you should contact a brain injury lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your options.

The personal injury lawyers at our firm have put together the following resource guide to help individuals identify traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms.

Identifying a Traumatic Brain Injury

Following a blow to the head, you should first seek medical attention. You should also see a doctor if you notice the development of any of the following traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms:

Loss of consciousness Severe or prolonged headaches Confusion or disorientation Dizziness or balance problems Memory problems Trouble concentrating Sensitivity to sound or light anxiety or depression Unexplained mood swings Difficulty following conversation Mood swings Nausea or vomiting

Slurring of the speech Problems with vision, hearing, or taste Numbness or weakness Unusual drowsiness or fatigue Unusual sleeping patterns Unexplained agitation Seizures or convulsions Pupil dilation Loss of coordination Fluid draining from the ears or nose

If you or a loved one notices any of the above traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms, you should immediately seek emergency medical care. Doctors may need to take immediate steps to try to relieve pressure on the brain, reduce inflammation, and stabilize the patient to avoid any further damage. Diuretics or anti-seizure medications may be necessary to reduce any fluid on the brain or prevent convulsions or seizures that may cause additional injury. In some cases, doctors may induce a temporary coma to reduce brain activity and relieve pressure, or may even perform emergency surgery. No matter how serious your injury may be, it is highly important that you get a proper medical diagnosis and treatment to limit the potential long-term effects on your life.

Even if a traumatic brain injury patient receives the appropriate medical care, the above signs and symptoms may be long-lasting. TBI patients often struggle with physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional impairments for weeks, months, or even permanently. To make matters even more difficult, there are usually no visibly apparent signs that someone has suffered a TBI, which makes it difficult for others to understand their struggles. For example, others may get frustrated if a TBI patient has trouble keeping up with a conversation, showing proper emotion for a particular situation, or completing basic tasks. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can affect a victim’s ability to return to work, school, and other everyday activities.

Rehabilitation for TBI Patients

Because of the wide array of possible signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation may be extensive and require many different kinds of professional assistance. For example, rehabilitation may include treatment from the following healthcare professionals:

• Physiatrist—this is a physical rehabilitation expert, who helps you recover your physical movement abilities.
• Physical therapist—assists with mobility, walking, and balance.
• Occupational therapist—helps a patient relearn how to perform everyday tasks and activities.
• Rehabilitation nurse—provides ongoing necessary care and helps with discharge services from a hospital or other facility.
• Psychiatrist or neuropsychologist—helps with feelings of depression, coping mechanisms, and emotional well-being.
• Speech and language pathologist—helps with communication skills.
• Traumatic brain injury specialist—educates family on the challenges of a TBI, the recovery process, and necessary care.
• Social worker—helps with future planning, making sure the right care is coordinated, and that proper arrangements are made.
• Vocational counselor—assesses a TBI patient’s ability to return to work, perform job-related tasks, helps find employment opportunities, and facilitates professional relationships.
• Recreational therapist—assists a patient in regaining the abilities to perform leisure activities and to enjoy life.

The Role of a Lawyer in the Recovery Process

The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can keep an individual from living life to the fullest, which is why it’s important that the recovery process not be hindered by an inability to pay medical bills or seek appropriate care.  If any traumatic brain injury is the result of a preventable situation in which another person, company, or organization exercised negligence or recklessness, a personal injury claim is possible. Contact a traumatic brain injury lawyer near you to conduct an initial consultation and begin the claim process. With just compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and suffering, the road to recovery can seem much less daunting.