What is a Traumatic Brain Injury or mTBI?
When a loaded semi strikes a passenger car tens of thousands of pounds of force propel the vehicle and occupants, sometimes from a stopped position in traffic, instantly to 20, 40 or more miles per hour. All of a person's internal organs, including their brain are forced into a violent pattern or rotation sometimes known as a "coup contrecoup" injury where the brain strikes the inside of a person's skull resulting in blunt force trauma, bleeding, and depending on the severity of the forces, mild or serious permanent brain damage. Serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising of the brain, torn brain tissue, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain. Many times injuries to the brain are permanent. It is critical that you have advise your medical provider if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a concussion or a brain injury immediately after a crash.
Start first by talking with the paramedics or fire department at the scene of the crash, and at the Emergency Room using the latest equipment for brain scans to look for brain bruising and brain bleeds inside a person's head. It is extremely important not to delay evaluation at an emergency facility. Every minute counts when a person has a brain bleed and as internal pressure builds brain damage may become irreversible or result in a death that might have been prevented if the proper evaluation and assessment was completed.
Here are some of the important symptoms that may occur immediately or in the days or weeks after a crash
- Physical symptoms
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- Headache- mild to severe
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Problems with speech-such as slurred speech
- Dizziness or loss of balance
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- blurred vision
- ringing in the ears
- a bad or strange taste in the mouth, or
- changes in the ability to smell
- a sensitivity to light, or
- a sensitivity to sound
- Behavioral or mental symptoms
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- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
- Memory or concentration problems
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Feeling unusually depressed or anxious
- Difficulty sleeping, or
- Sleeping more than usual
Children's symptoms
Because infants and young children with brain injuries might not be able to communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms parent or guardian observation is vital after a potential brain injury. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:
- Change in eating or nursing habits
- Unusual or easy irritability
- Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
- Change in ability to pay attention
- Change in sleep habits
- Seizures
- Sad or depressed mood
- Drowsiness
- Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities
