Whether a traumatic brain injury is the result of a car crash, a slip-and-fall accident or some other type of accident in California, the results can be devastating. The Mayo Clinic notes that complications from a TBI could result in a coma or vegetative state, seizures, infections and stroke, to name a few.
The first signs of a TBI may occur immediately after the accident, but they may not appear until hours or days later because of pressure from fluid build-up or blood clots that shift and block the oxygen flow to the brain.
TBI includes injuries ranging from a mild concussion to brain death. Any injury that disrupts natural brain function may be a TBI; the blow to the head does not necessarily have to cause unconsciousness. Common symptoms include the following:
- Feeling dazed or disoriented
- Having a headache that gets worse instead of better
- Vomiting or feeling nauseated
- Feeling drowsy, sleeping too much or too little or feeling fatigued
- Losing balance or coordination or feeling dizzy
- Developing issues with vision, taste, hearing or smell
Serious symptoms may include weakness or numbness of the extremities, slurred speech or dilated pupils. A person may have trouble remembering things or concentrating, creating new memories, focusing, problem-solving and decision-making. A TBI may also negatively affect a person’s judgment and reasoning.
Where in the brain the damage occurs will affect the symptoms. If a person damages the nerves at the base of the skull, it could lead to muscle paralysis in the face, jaw and neck, which may also cause issues swallowing and speaking.
The Alzheimer’s Association notes that scientists now believe there is a link between TBI and the development of Alzheimer’s or dementia later in life.