Jason Stephens | May 20, 2022 | Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) devastate the lives of millions of Americans. These injuries don’t always seem serious at first, but many seemingly mild TBIs result in long-term consequences for the person who suffered the head injury. 

The symptoms of a TBI can be vast and varied. And it’s vital to recognize them when they appear. If not properly treated, the consequences of a TBI can ruin both your life and the lives of your family and friends. And the scariest part is that many people aren’t even aware that they suffered a TBI.

What Is a TBI?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury as an injury caused by a blow to the head that affects how the brain works. The type of TBI that most people are familiar with is a concussion. This is the mildest type of TBI and by far the most common.

What Causes a TBI?

Any number of events can cause traumatic brain injuries. 

Some of the most common are:

In most cases, impact on the brain occurs when it bounces around violently inside the skull. Direct penetration of the brain (like with a gunshot wound) isn’t necessary to cause a TBI.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of a TBI?

Many of the consequences of a TBI do not show up until years after the initial trauma occurs. If not treated, these consequences can seriously harm the victim’s life.

Increased Aggression

Research shows that 37% to 71% of people who have suffered a TBI show increased aggression. This increased aggression is extremely difficult to control and does not respond to any known drugs or therapy. 

In the best of circumstances, this can be embarrassing for the victim. In the worst cases, a person suffering increased aggression may harm their loved ones or others.

Memory Loss

Memory loss is one of the most common long-term symptoms of someone suffering from a TBI. Brain damage can destroy old memories and prevent the creation of new memories. 

This damage compounds over time as normal long-term memory loss occurs. Coping methods like journals and calendars can help, but people suffering memory loss never fully recover.

Sensory Problems

One of the main functions of the brain is to process sensory information. The brain processes both sound and light. A traumatic brain injury can permanently affect the way your brain processes this information.

When it comes to vision, a TBI is most likely to cause light sensitivity. This sensitivity can result in numerous side effects like nausea, migraines, and vertigo. There aren’t many effective treatments for this, but prescription sunglasses will usually reduce most of the problems.

Auditory problems are even more difficult to deal with. A TBI usually causes some form of hearing loss and possibly tinnitus. Traditional treatments for auditory problems address TBI-caused auditory problems. But those treatments only provide modest relief.

Depression

Unfortunately, depression is a common side effect associated with traumatic brain injuries. Many people who have suffered a TBI also have PTSD. 

While the TBI doesn’t directly cause depression, the injury exacerbates the depression from PTSD and makes it more difficult for the brain to control. If not properly treated, depression will often result in suicide.

Preventing Long-Term Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

There is no way to completely prevent the long-term symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, but you can take steps to mitigate them. The sooner you receive treatment from a brain injury doctor after suffering a TBI, the sooner you can take steps to mitigate the damage.

Contact Our Brain Injury Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth braine injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.

Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000