Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by physical impact that results in disruption of normal brain function.

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries may include: mental confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, loss of balance, headaches, seizures, ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing, dizziness, pupil dilation, memory loss, anger, anxiety, fatigue, change in taste or smell, mood swings, and loss of consciousness or fainting.

Symptoms can appear immediately while others may arise days or weeks after the impact. It is critical to seek medical care timely.

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries can be of short duration or permanent, depending on the individual, course of treatment, and extent and type of injury. Sometimes individuals believe that their symptoms are permanent but come to realize that with the passage of time, that their symptoms reduce or may go away entirely.

Certain symptoms of traumatic brain injury, such as seizures, may appear years after the impact.

Some common long-term effects of traumatic brain injury include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, memory problems, difficulty with attention, focus, or concentration, speech difficulties, problems with planning, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, slurred speech, seizures, blurred vision, nystagmus, hearing loss, anosmia, and tinnitus. Certain symptoms of traumatic brain injury, such as seizures, may appear years after the impact.

Research has suggested that traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, for some victims.

Survivors of traumatic brain injuries have been shown to often have, but not necessarily have, decreased life expectancy when compared to the general population.

Traumatic brain injuries can worsen over time. However, available data indicates that most victims will experience a positive recovery.

Examination by a licensed medical professional is required to diagnose a traumatic brain injury. Licensed medical personnel commonly use, among other practices, the Glasgow Coma Scale, neurological exams, and imaging tests to diagnose traumatic brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries are often categorized as open (skull fracture or penetration) or closed (skull impact without fracture or penetration).

Medical professionals commonly refer to a concussion as a “mild” traumatic brain injury.

Examination by a licensed medical professional is required to diagnose any traumatic brain injury, associated severity, and appropriate treatment.

Post-concussion syndrome is a condition which may follow an impact to the head. Long-term effects may include: dizziness, headaches, fatigue, noise and light sensitivity, anxiety, and irritability.

Always dial 911 and seek emergency medical attention if you or a loved one experiences a blow to the head or body that is worrisome or causes behavioral changes. Even mild brain injuries require immediate and urgent medical attention. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS),traumatic brain injury (TBI) or craniocerebral trauma is the leading cause of disability and death in children and young adults in the United States.

The ability to return to work after suffering a brain injury must be determined by a licensed medical professional.

Treatment for traumatic brain injuries may include rest, therapy, medication, and surgery. Mild TBIs can typically be resolved with rest and over-the-counter medications. Moderate to severe TBIs, on the other hand, often require emergency medical attention and surgeries to remove blood clots, repair skull fractures, and relieve pressure from inside the skull. Treatment usually starts at the hospital and continues in an inpatient or residential rehabilitation facility or outpatient treatment service provider. Duration varies depending on the individual and severity of the condition. Common specialists who provide rehabilitation for traumatic brain injuries include neuropsychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physiatrists, speech and language pathologists, nurses, recreational therapists, and counselors.

Although brain damage can be permanent in nature, not all brain damage is necessarily long-lasting or permanent.

Depending on the severity of injury, the circumstances involved, the course of treatment, and the individual involved, a full recovery can be possible for some victims of traumatic brain injury.