Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability in the United States. Many people will require medical care and services due to the lasting impairments in thinking, memory, emotional functioning, physical movement, and sensation. One of the most important aspects of care is education. Professional and caregiving staff should learn as much as they can about TBI in order to deliver a high quality of care.
Traumatic brain injury may result from a severe blow to the head or a violent jolt to the body. It can also occur when an object pierces the brain and causes shattering of the skull, as in a gunshot wound to the head. Severity of TBI ranges from mild (temporary injury to brain cells), to severe (physical damage to parts of the brain). Injuries can be short- or long-term or lead to death.
It’s important that healthcare professionals and caregivers become aware of symptoms associated with mild, moderate and severe TBI. Symptoms can present themselves immediately after the injury or weeks to months later. Symptoms of mild TBI include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Speech difficulties
- Fatigue or sleeping more than usual
- Dizziness or loss of balance
Symptoms of a moderate or more severe traumatic brain injury include:
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness in extremities
- Difficulty awakening from sleep
- Dilated pupils
- Convulsions or seizures
- Persistent headache
- Loss of consciousness for long periods of time
Individuals may also experience sensory or cognitive symptoms such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light or sound, depression or anxiety, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, confusion, combativeness, or coma.
Healthcare professionals and caregivers who are working with individuals who have experienced a TBI should continually learn about best practices concerning care, medical treatment and approaches. The best place to begin is with education and becoming more aware of symptoms associated with TBI.