Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Most signs or symptoms are evident soon after the traumatic event, while you may only become aware of others days or weeks later. This article by Paul Mitchell,Q.C. lists some common symptoms to be aware of, and special considerations relating to children.
The following are the most common symptoms of a TBI:
General
- Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions
- Getting lost or easily confused
- Urge to vomit (nausea)
- Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason)
- Headaches or neck pain that do not go away
- Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading
- Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions
- Fatigue, feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping)
- Light-headedness, loss of balance, or dizziness
- Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
Children
Children with a brain injury can have the same symptoms as adults, but it is often very difficult for them to express how they feel.
Call your child’s doctor if they have had a blow to the head and you notice any of these symptoms:
- Irritability or crankiness (will not stop crying or cannot be consoled)
- Vomiting
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Tiredness or listlessness
- Changes in eating (will not eat or nurse)
- Changes in the way the child plays
- Changes in performance at school
- Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
- Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
- Loss of balance or unsteady walking
Sometimes adults and children complain of “just not feeling like themselves.”
Most people make a good recovery from a concussion, but it’s important to take impacts to the head seriously.
If you or a loved one notices any of the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Video
Watch this brief video describing how diffuse axonal injury affects nerve fibers, which can lead to a disruption in nerve communication — affecting a person’s physical and cognitive abilities.
Understanding Diffuse Axonal Injury
Paul Mitchell, Q.C.is a BC personal injury lawyer who has extensive experience with brain injury claims. He acts for the brain injured all over BC, and will not act for ICBC or any other insurance company.
Paul was a founding Director of BrainTrust Canada (Central Okanagan Brain Injury Society), and was on their board for over 25 years. He has presented at numerous brain injury conferences, including the Okanagan Conference on Brain Injury, and the BC Brain Injury Conference in Vancouver. He is also the author of many articles and publications on brain injury.
For more information on brain injuries, or for a confidential discussion of your brain injury claim, contact Paul Mitchell, Q.C. at 250-869-1115 (direct line), or send him a confidential email at [email protected]
