Each year in the U.S., 1.4 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While most of these people are treated and released, many are kept in the hospital or die as a result of their injuries. A TBI occurs when a blow or jolt to the head or penetrating head injury, disrupts brain function. The severity of TBIs vary from mild to severe, and depend on the severity of the injury. These injuries can affect you for a short or long duration.
TBI symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain affected, but some common symptoms include:
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Loss of balance
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Problems with concentration
• Memory loss
• Slurred or slowed speech
• Behavioral changes (impulsiveness, irritability, inappropriate laughter)
• Depression
While the symptoms vary with the part of the brain affected, they also depend on the severity of the injury. For example, a mild brain injury might result in the loss of consciousness for a few minutes, leaving the person feeling dazed or briefly confused. A moderate brain injury might result in loss of consciousness for several minutes to several hours, causing confusion that can last for days or weeks. Impairment can be permanent. A severe brain injury can cause loss of consciousness for days, weeks, or months. It can also result in coma or a vegetative state.
Those who show signs of a TBI should seek immediate medical attention. While little can be done to reverse the initial injury, medical personnel will focus on stabilization and insuring a proper supply of oxygen reaches the brain.
Causes
The three most common causes of TBI are accidents involving vehicles (motor vehicle, bicycle, vehicle/pedestrian), falls, and violence. Blast injuries are the leading cause of TBI with American soldiers in Iraq. Twenty percent of infantry troops and ten percent of all U.S. troops have suffered a TBI.
Managing the long-term consequences of TBI is challenging to the affected individuals and their families. Some of the needs these people have include managing stress, controlling temper, improving memory and problem solving skills, and improving job skills.
Many families might feel lost or adrift as the move from hospital care to dealing with insurance companies. If the TBI was caused through negligence or another party"s carelessness, damages may be collected.