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Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury is a personal injury that is typically a result of a violent, sudden blow, or jolt to the head, neck, or body – commonly seen in car accidents and automobile collisions.

Objects that penetrate the skull and impact the brain, like a bullet fired from a gun or a piece of shattered glass, can also cause traumatic brain injuries – which is commonly abbreviated as “TBI”.

Source: Traumatic Brain Injury – Mayo Clinic

Traumatic brain injures, depending on the severity, can cause a wide range of symptoms and long-term health complications. Some symptoms and signs may appear immediately or shortly after the impact or accident occurs. However, it is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear days or even weeks later.

Mild traumatic brain injury symptoms

Physical symptoms from a mild traumatic brain injury may include:

• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness and/or fatigue
• Speech problems
• Loss of balance and dizziness

Sensory symptoms from a mild traumatic brain injury may include:

• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Changes to the senses like taste and smell

Cognitive, behavioral, or mental symptoms from a mild traumatic brain injury may include:

• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
• A state of being dazed, confused, or disoriented
• Concentration and memory problems
• Mood swings
• Feelings of depression or anxiety
• Difficulty and disruptions to sleeping
• Sleeping longer than usual

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury symptoms

Physical symptoms from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury may include:

• Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
• A persistent headache or a headache that gradually worsens
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Seizures
• Dilated pupils
• Fluid draining for nose or ears
• Inability to wake up from sleep
• Numbness or weakness in extremities like toes and fingers
• Loss of balance or coordination

Cognitive, behavioral, or mental symptoms from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury may include:

• Profound or lasting confusion
• Unusual behavior like agitation or combativeness
• Slurred or impacted speech
• Coma and other disorders of consciousness

Source: Traumatic Brain Injury – Mayo Clinic

When a child or infant is involved in an accident and sustains a traumatic brain injury it may be difficult to communicate with them to understand the symptoms they are experiencing.

While a lot of the symptoms that an adult would suffer from would also apply to a child or infant dealing with a traumatic brain injury, some other things to watch out for may include:

• Loss of interest in favorite activities or toys
• Persistent crying with an inability to be consoled or comforted
• Changes in eating or nursing habits
• Seizures
• Inability to focus or pay attention
• Mood changes like depression or sadness
• Drowsiness and changes to sleep patterns

Traumatic brain injures are most commonly associated with sudden or high-impact blows to the head, neck, or back.

While traumatic brain injuries are dangerous and could be potentially life-altering, the degree and severity of the damage will depend on several factors like the nature of the injury, the force of the impact, and the physical condition of the victim. Children, younger adults, and adults aged 60 and older tend to be most at risk to suffer traumatic brain injuries when they are involved in an accident that involves a blow to the head, neck, or back.