One of the most devastating injuries anyone can have, and still live, is a mild traumatic brain injury or TBI. This is sometimes referred to as post concussive syndrome.
In fact, there is nothing "mild" about a TBI. If you or someone you love has this type of damage to the brain you know what a problem it causes within and without the family.
There is greater chance that a person involved in a collision with a tractor trailer will receive a TBI than in other, milder collisions, although it must be considered and evaluated in EVERY case involving a truck or a car wreck. Even mild impacts to the head can have devastating results. In fact there does not have to be a significant amount of damage to a car to cause a TBI. One of the greatest myths perpetuated by defense lawyers is that you can’t have a TBI without a loss of consciousness. This is simply not true.
Many Dr’s don’t look for TBI it as it doesn’t show up on an X-Ray, and it generally requires consultation with other experts. What should a family look for if they are concerned about a TBI in someone they love? Factors include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Diplopia (double vision of one or both eyes)
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Sleep Problems
- Concentration Problems
- Memory Problems
- Problems involving stress, emotional, alcohol
- Affect changes, anxiety, depression
- Changes in personality
- Apathy
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
If any of these are noted after a collision, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A KNOWN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, the treating doctor should be told as soon as possible. Even after the problem is diagnosed, treatment remains an issue. The Brain Injury Association of America has stated that:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a TBI.
According to one study, about 40% of those hospitalized with a TBI had at least one unmet need for services one year after their injury. The most frequent unmet needs were:
Improving memory and problem solving;
Managing stress and emotional upsets;
Controlling ones temper; and
Improving ones job skills.TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior, and/or sensation. It can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.
The national brain injury associations can be very helpful. One of them, The Brain Injury Association, can be reached at: www.biausa.org To read about someone who has had a TBI and provides insight , links, and other resources to those who have, or have had a loved one with a TBI, see secondchancetolive.wordpress.com