Traumatic brain injuries are very serious and can even be life-threatening. This is why it is important for you to learn about the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Once you recognize these symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
There are three different categories of traumatic brain injury: mild, moderate, and severe. These conditions have different symptoms, so it is important that you learn to recognize all possible signs of a traumatic brain injury. It is also important to know that children may show different symptoms. Keep in mind that it can take weeks for some symptoms of brain injuries to appear.
Keep reading to learn more about the various traumatic brain injury signs.
The Signs of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
There are many symptoms associated with a mild traumatic brain injury. These symptoms can be physical, sensory, or mental in nature.
The physical symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Problems speaking
- Loss of balance or dizziness
- Headache
The mental symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury may include:
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Being dazed or disoriented
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Anxiety or depression
- Insomnia
- Oversleeping
The sensory symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury often include sensitivity to light or sound. Blurred vision and ringing ears are also common.
The Signs of a Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
A moderate or severe brain injury can cause all the symptoms associated with a mild brain injury, as well as many serious symptoms. As with mild brain injuries, severe brain injuries can cause both physical and mental symptoms.
The physical symptoms of a severe brain injury may include:
- Lack of coordination
- Numbness in the extremities
- Clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose
- Dilated pupils
- Seizures
- Nausea or vomiting
- Severe headache
- Passing out
The mental signs of a severe brain injury could include:
- Coma
- Confusion
- Aggression
- Slurred speech
Children May Have Different Symptoms
It can be difficult to figure out whether a child is suffering from a brain injury. This is because children may have different symptoms. Also, a child is less likely to realize that they have a brain injury than an adult. This means that their parent or another adult will have to recognize the signs of a brain injury. The symptoms of brain injuries in children often include:
- Persistent crying
- Lack of interest in toys
- Problems nursing or eating
- Irritability
- Insomnia or oversleeping
Dealing with a Traumatic Brain Injury
If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or someone else, you should seek medical attention immediately. You should go to the ER so you can be seen immediately, rather than wait for an appointment with your usual doctor. This holds true even if you believe the condition is only a mild traumatic brain injury. Even a mild traumatic brain injury is a serious condition that can lead to severe complications. Also, it is difficult for a layperson to differentiate between a mild traumatic brain injury and a severe brain injury.
