Brain injuries can occur when you hit your head in a car accident, a football game, a fall. You don’t even have to hit your head to suffer a brain injury – a jolt to the head that shakes the brain is enough to cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the best-case scenarios, the sufferer receives immediate medical attention after their incident so a TBI can be diagnosed or ruled out. But, sometimes, a brain injury does not appear until days or weeks later. Would you be able to recognize the symptoms of a TBI in yourself or a loved one?
Symptoms of a TBI
When someone deviates from their usual behavior after an accident or injury, it’s natural to give them some breathing room. You may excuse their actions as the result of having just been through a serious and distressing experience and needing time to recover, gather their equilibrium, and get back to normal.
However, as the days go on, erratic or unusual behavior could signal that something is not right with the brain. Not every person’s reaction to a head injury is the same, but there are common symptoms of a TBI:
- Changes in behavior: Difficulty making simple decisions. Trouble communicating simple thoughts or wants. Making repetitive statements.
- Psychological changes: Severe and unexplained mood swings. Difficulty concentrating. Anxiety or panic.
- Changes to personality: Mood shifts. Unexplained outbursts or a short temper. Risky behavior. Restlessness. Impulsiveness.
Being aware of the symptoms of a TBI can help you separate normal from abnormal, especially if a person is acting strangely or unlike themselves. Some symptoms can be more obvious than others, but even one symptom is enough to potentially signal a brain injury.
Delayed Diagnosis of a TBI
If someone has suffered a TBI and it goes misdiagnosed, the proper treatment for this injury has been delayed, which means healing has been delayed too. It’s essential for a person to rest their brain and take the proper precautions to avoid further brain injury after a TBI has occurred. Only proper diagnosis of this condition can ensure that those two things occur.
Sometimes a brain injury is missed during medical care because other injuries are so obvious. This situation is no excuse, however, for a medical professional missing the signs of a TBI. If someone has been involved in an accident or collision or suffered a fall or hit to the head, they should be evaluated for all types of head injuries.
Brain injuries can heal over time and with patience and proper therapy. Undiagnosed brain injuries or those that have a delayed diagnosis late can lead to difficulty in all areas of life, from relationships to professional abilities. If you have been the victim of a misdiagnosed brain injury, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation with one of our experienced, knowledgeable, and successful brain injury attorneys. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today.
