Understanding the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries

April 17, 2013

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs as they are known, can occur in many different instances such as sporting events or auto accidents. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that over one million TBIs occur every year in the U.S. Understanding TBIs and the seriousness of the condition is vital to mitigating both short and long term damage for sufferers.

What is a TBI?

A TBI is caused by a forceful impact to the head, such as a jolt, blow or impact from a fall of some kind that can affect brain function. TBIs can be mild or severe. A mild TBI typically occurs when there is a brief change in consciousness. A severe traumatic brain injury occurs when there is extended unconsciousness or amnesia. Either form can easily be life-threatening.

The most common TBIs that occur are concussions.

Understanding concussions

Many people associate concussions with individuals who receive a strike to the head, like football players, or hit their heads after falling. Most are relatively minor and patients likely recover without any permanent damage.

However, concussions, no matter how nominal, should never be taken lightly. Simply because they may not go in tandem with any penetration to the skull or cause bleeding doesn't mean they aren't severe.

This is because inside the skull, blood clots can form, crowd the brain against the skull and cause permanent brain damage.

Mild or severe, sufferers can experience complications with:
- Cognitive skills: This includes skills that pertain to memory, problem solving, multitasking, or decision- making
- Communication skills: This includes skills involving conversation abilities like comprehension and speaking
- Behavior: This includes changes to an individual's personality like abnormal outbursts or the inability to maintain self control
- Emotions: This involves psychological conditions like depression and anxiety
- Paralysis: This includes paralysis to a part of the body such as loss of sensation or function to the facial muscles

Seeking immediate medical attention

Due to the potential permanent damage TBIs can cause, individuals--even those who receive only a small impact to their heads--are encouraged to seek medical attention. Those who experience severe signs should seek immediate attention. These include:
- Headaches that persist or continue to increase in severity;
- Body weakness or numbness;
- Coordination that continues to decline;
- Vomiting or nausea that is constant and severe; and
- Slurred speech of any kind.

Paying close attention to infants, children

Infants and children should always be treated if they suffer from any type of head injury. Parents should seek immediate attention, however, if babies or young children are crying for extended periods of time, cannot be consoled, or refuse to nurse or eat. These are all indications of a serious injury.

Article provided by Cavanagh Law Group
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