Symptoms of brain injury
Brain injuries are as individual as the person who was injured. The short and long-term effects of a brain injury vary widely depending on the cause, the location of the injury, and severity. Some of the more common symptoms include:
Physical
- Weakness or numbness
- Loss of coordination
- Fatigue or sleep disorders
- Headache, nausea or vomiting
- Slurred Speech
- Seizures
- Difficulty Swallowing
Cognitive
- Memory or attention problems
- Slow procession of information
- Lack of awareness/denial
- Decreased initiation
- Inability to shift mental tasks
- Difficulty planning/organizing
- Poor decision-making
- Language difficulties
Perceptual/Sensory
- Changes in vision, hearing, smell,
taste, or sense of touch
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Disorientation or a confused state
Behavioral and Emotional
- Depression or anxiety
- Agitation or irritability
- Mood changes
- Lack of inhibition
The above list is not exhaustive. Even if the symptoms are mild or atypical, every brain injury is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention and diagnosis. Diagnosis of a brain injury can be complex, as numerous other conditions (such as depression or epilepsy) can have similar symptoms.