Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often caused as a result of an accident or injury. They can be complex to understand and take many different forms.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Traumatic brain injury is an injury suffered by the brain, caused by a trauma to the head. These can occur in many ways, such as during car accidents or because of a fall.

These injuries range widely in severity. The majority of head injuries are a result of a banged head and cause people to suffer from a brief period of unconsciousness or sickness and dizziness.

For more moderate injuries, consciousness can be lost for anywhere from 15 minutes to 6 hours, or there can be post-traumatic amnesia for up to 24 hours after the incident. Anyone who suffers from a moderate head injury is likely to suffer from residual symptoms.

Severe head injuries are defined as a patient being unconscious for more than 6 hours. This type of injury may cause a coma and further long-term implications.

Signs and symptoms

There are a range of different signs that someone may have suffered from a TBI.

Physical – headaches, blurred or double vision, and seizures are all symptoms of a TBI.

Cognitive – disorientation, changes in sleep patterns, and loss of or change in consciousness could be signs that a TBI has occurred.

Perception – light-headedness, dizziness, hearing problems, and sensitivity to light or sound may all point to a TBI.

These are just a few of the many signs and symptoms, and medical advice should always be sought after any form of head injury.

Who is most likely to get a TBI?

Certain groups are more likely to suffer from a traumatic brain injury. The most notable is those over the age of 65, as many TBIs occur as a result of a fall.

Children 4 and under and also more at risk of suffering from a TBI due to trips and falls, as well as their heightened risk of abuse, such as shaken baby syndrome.

Recovery from a TBI

The severity of a TBI will directly impact the treatment required and the likely length of recovery. The time between the injury occurring and when initial treatment is received will also have a direct impact on the outcome. Dependent on the cause of the injury, it is during this recovery period when brain injury claims may be made.

Those who have suffered from a mild TBI may be prescribed medication and will be advised to rest and prevent further injury.

For those who have suffered from a more severe TBI, they may have to undergo surgery and will likely go through an intense rehabilitation process.