Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from vehicle accidents or falls can cause severe disabilities or death. Accidents involving hits or bumps to the head or whiplash require prompt medical attention, allowing doctors to evaluate for signs and symptoms of TBI, concussion, and other injuries. Without appropriate medical care, your TBI could rapidly get worse. Sometimes traumatic brain injury symptoms can have a delayed onset. As the brain reacts to the initial injury, it can swell and push against the inside of the skull, causing further brain damage that may be worse than the original injury. Symptoms, therefore, may not appear until days or weeks after the accident. Injuries from trauma to the brain can also be subtle, and may not appear in medical imaging, presenting themselves only as temporary or ongoing symptoms commonly associated with traumatic brain injuries or concussions, known commonly as post-concussion syndrome. Since the trillions of nerves that make up the brain are responsible for causing these symptoms, even slight trauma to the head like a small bump or mild whiplash can result in life-long injuries.
In addition to being delayed, traumatic brain injury symptoms can also be subtle. If you or your loved one loses consciousness for an extended period, that’s a clear sign that you need medical care. However, the more subtle signs of TBI can be easy to miss if you are not watching out for them. That could be disastrous if you don’t get the care you need in time.
Common Subtle Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
Becoming aware of the subtle TBI symptoms to look out for could be life-saving, as the window for getting treatment is relatively short. When symptoms persist beyond 6-12 months, it is not likely that they will spontaneously resolve on their own. Some symptoms of traumatic brain injuries or concussions include:
1. Feeling Faint
When the brain swells, blood flow to the brain can be reduced, causing feelings of faintness.
2. Persistent Headaches
Because headaches have many causes, people may not associate a headache with a TBI. However, if you were recently in a car accident or a fall, this is a potential TBI symptom that should be evaluated.
3. Persistent Dizziness or Nausea
Like headaches, these symptoms may also indicate a TBI.
4. Vision Changes
Some vision changes may be obvious, but others are subtle. Be aware of any changes in your ability to see things that are near or in the distance, any limitations in your field of view, or blurred vision.
5. Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms
Brain injuries can affect thinking and behavior in ways that may be easy or hard to detect. Subtle symptoms to be aware of include:
- Losing consciousness for as little as a few seconds
- Being even mildly confused or disoriented
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Changes to sleep patterns, including sleeping more or having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up
- Having memory problems and/or difficulty making decisions or concentrating
- Feelings of frustration and irritation
6. Physical Symptoms
Brain injuries can affect any part of the body. Some symptoms, such as seizures, are clear warning signs. More subtle signals include:
- Nausea
- Slurred speech
- Weakness in the face or limbs
- Problems with balance
- Lack of energy
7. Emotional Changes
Look out for any changes in emotional and mental states, such as:
- Mood changes
- Aggression
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Depression
8. Changes in Sensations
Subtle signs include:
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in taste or smell
- Increased sensitivity to light or sound
- Vertigo, or imbalance upon changing positions like sitting-to-standing or lying down-to-standing
If you have any of these subtle traumatic brain injury symptoms, or any other changes in your body, thinking, emotions, or behavior, seek medical evaluation without delay.
Get the Substantial Traumatic Brain Injury Settlement You Need
If you sustained a TBI or concussion in any accident, including a motor vehicle accident or fall, where another person was at least partially at fault, you may be entitled to a substantial settlement. The experienced traumatic brain injury and concussion personal injury lawyers at Garmey Law are dedicated to helping accident victims like you. We will fight to get you a fair settlement so that you can receive the medical treatment you need and, if your TBI or concussion has affected your income, make up for lost wages. For a free consultation, call us at (207) 481-4683, or contact us through our website.
