Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury

The effects of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, vary depending on the severity of the injury. Injuries that are mild may only experience limited effects, or effects that go away after the injury heals. Severe traumatic brain injuries can result in serious, long-term effects, which may include permanent disability or even death. Both mild and serious brain injuries require immediate medical treatment, and can have long-term consequences on an individual’s life. Individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury should contact their physician to discuss the effects and long-term management of these injuries.

Effects of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

While a mild traumatic brain injury may sound relatively innocuous, its effects are not. The effects of a mild traumatic brain injury may include:

• Headache;
• Difficulty thinking;
• Memory problems;
• Mood swings;
• Frustration;
• Attention deficits.

At first glance, these effects may seem manageable and easy to deal with. However, depending on the circumstances, these effects can be long-term, and can have a lasting impact on the victim of traumatic brain injury and his or her family.

Effects of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Severe traumatic brain injury is associated with a loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes, penetrating skull injury or memory loss after the injury. The effects of severe traumatic brain injury may include:

• Comatose states;
• Limited function of arms or legs;
• Abnormal speech or language;
• Loss of thinking ability;
• Impairment of higher level cognitive functions;
• Emotional problems.

The degree of recovery varies on an individual basis. Some people may be able to make a partial or total recovery from TBI, while others may suffer its effects for a lifetime. Changes in brain function can have a dramatic impact on social interaction, family, the career and community interaction. Individuals who suffer from either mild or severe traumatic brain injury may lose their jobs, be ostracized by their families or even require long-term hospitalization and care.