Understanding Brain Injury Symptoms

Brain injuries can be frightening, especially since symptoms don’t always show up immediately following an accident. Even a minor accident can result in brain injury, especially when someone has hit their head, so it’s important to be aware of symptoms that might show up if there are problems.

According to the Mayo Clinic, brain injury symptoms can be physical, sensory or cognitive in nature. Cognitive symptoms have to do with how a person thinks or feels. These might include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, suddenly feeling nervous or depressed or changes in a person’s mood.

Sensory symptoms have to do with how a person experiences the world around them. With a brain injury, someone might develop a sensitivity when dealing with sounds or light. A brain injury can also cause tinnitus symptoms or blurry vision. It may cause a person to have issues smelling or to experience a bad taste at times.

Physical symptoms impact how someone feels physically and might even be noticed by others who are around the person. Physical symptoms can include drowsiness or nausea, confusion, dizziness, loss of balance and headaches. Someone with a brain injury might sleep more than normal or have problems sleeping. They might even pass out or black out for periods of time.

Because the symptoms of brain injury are similar to symptoms associated with many other illnesses, seeking medical attention is important if you are experiencing any of them. If you experience these symptoms after an accident that was caused by another person, you can also seek legal assistance in determining if you have a case for compensation.

Source: Mayo Clinic, “Traumatic brain injury,” accessed Sep. 11, 2015