4 Brain Injury Symptoms To Look Out For After an Accident

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently a life-altering event. There are a range of symptoms relating to TBI. Serious injury to the brain can occur with what appears to be only mild symptomatology. Essentially, although you may appear to be in perfect health on the outside, internally, unseen damage can occur to the brain.

Imagine you were in a serious motor vehicle accident, and that some time passed before medical assistance arrived. You may or may not have lost consciousness, but medical personnel would have no way of knowing this. Fortunately, medical professionals are trained to evaluate and check patients for the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury.

Here are brain injury symptoms to watch for after an accident, or you can find out more here.

1. Cognitive Symptoms

Delirium and the feeling of being disoriented are common problems with abnormal brain function due to brain injury. Being disoriented makes concentrating difficult, as you are likely to be confused. You may need help with focusing on conversations and making solid decisions. It is common for accident victims suffering from disorientation to appear unable to focus and not make sense to others. Short-term memory loss is a frequent issue.

2. Behavioral Symptoms

After an accident, victims can sometimes display increased agitation or aggression due to brain injury symptoms. Along with feelings of being disoriented, accident victims often become agitated when unable to understand what is happening around them. The resulting confusion can sometimes lead to aggression from the now frustrated individual trying to comprehend the situation and those responding to the emergency.

3. Social Symptoms

Someone who survives a life-threatening severe event sometimes has trouble returning to daily activities. Accidents can be draining physically but also emotionally and financially. For those suffering from TBI, symptoms can include such problems that are initially apparent. Issues such as time off work for injuries related to the accident cause income loss and increasing financial pressure. Relationship issues often arise as a result of the increased stress and pressure attributed to the accident.

4. Neurological Symptoms

In the long term, several neurological issues are expected in brain injury symptoms. Patients may experience poor coordination or tremors along with physical weakness. Physical pain in the form of neuropathy causes a burning or tingling sensation and can often lead to numbness and weakness or, in severe cases, paralysis. An onset of seizures or increased seizure activity can occur. These symptoms can be life-threatening and should be treated with immediate medical care.

Seek Medical Treatment

If you have been involved in an accident, seek medical treatment immediately. On the outside, the physical injuries sustained by an accident are easy to see in the form of bruising, cuts, broken bones, and burns. However, internally, there could be severe injuries that are easy to miss by the untrained eye. Fortunately, some well-educated medical professionals are experienced in these injuries that can help. For more information on what to watch, search for “brain injury symptoms” online.