Once someone receives a blow to the head, any number of signs can indicate a brain injury. It’s also possible that there may not be any obvious indication at first. But most brain injuries do reveal symptoms that help people diagnose and treat brain injury.
What are some signs and symptoms of brain injury?
A brain injury can affect a person physically and psychologically, and sometimes the symptoms don't appear immediately.
In milder injuries like concussions, the symptoms of brain injury may include:
- Any lapse in consciousness
- Sudden forgetfulness or amnesia
- Confusion
- Poor balance or dizzy spells
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Blurred vision
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Headaches
- Moodiness
- Problems with concentration
- Memory impairment
A child may not be able to express their injury adequately, so brain injury symptoms of children might also include:
- Cranky demeanor or listlessness
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat
- Poor performance at school
- Disrupted sleep pattern
- Loss of interest in toys or activities
In the case of more significant injuries, symptoms may include the above, as well as:
- Unrelenting headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Jerking bodily movements or convulsions
- Comatose states
- Numbness or weakness in limbs
- Dilated eyes
- Poor coordination
- Agitation
- Slurred speech
Responding to brain injury symptoms
Unfortunately, it is often difficult to diagnose a mild brain injury since most times it’s “invisible.” Even well-educated healthcare professionals have a difficult time spotting the signs of a brain injury, which is why the most common advice always boils down to “get checked; better safe than sorry.” If there's a suspicion of a brain injury, it's best to report to the nearest emergency room.