The Effects and Symptoms of a Brain Injury
An injury to the head will nearly always have an impact upon the brain. The brain, through a system of millions of nerves, controls every thought, physical action and emotion. An injury to the head can therefore stop these actions and that is why a brain injury can be so wide ranging in its effect and devastating in its consequences.
Every year one million people in the UK will attend hospital with a brain injury. Fortunately in 85% of cases the injury is mild and in most of these cases, with correct medical treatment, will go on to make a good recovery within six months. If a person losses consciousness for over six hours, the injury is classed as severe. People with sever brain injuries are likely to have complex problems and will need long term rehabilitation. Sometimes however, even mild injuries can cause long lasting impairments.
Unfortunately it is estimated up to 75% of all brain injuries go unreported and unassessed by medical professionals. This is often because there is no loss of consciousness at the time of the injury and symptoms do not become apparent until many days, weeks or months after the accident. Brain injury is frequently mis-diagnosed as depression. Often depression is a consequence of a brain injury but sometimes this diagnosis can mask more serious underlying problems.
People with a head injury might experience a number of symptoms that might be overlooked. People with a brain injury often do not have insight into their own problems. They will not be themselves.
The most severe types of head injury can cause extensive functional limitations such a paralysis, and severely limited mental functioning. A little further down the continuum of head injuries you will find moderate head injuries. Moderate head injuries are characterized by corresponding degrees of functional limitations mostly in the form of diminished mental skills. Then on the other end of the continuum you will find what is called concussion, mild or minor head injuries. Like the moderate head injuries, mild head injury can cause impairments in mental functioning. The irony of mild head injuries is that often, such injuries do not even require a hospital stay, yet they result in changes so profound that lives are forever changed.
The effects of a brain injury can vary from minor to very serious of even fatal. Brain injuries can cause hidden disabilities that can change the personality, thinking and memory of the patient.
Nearly every person who suffers a brain injury will experience a period of confusion and disorientation. They may not be able to remember the incident and may seem confused. This is defined as Post-Traumatic Amnesia (PTA). The length of time the PTA lasts for together with the length of time the patient was unconscious for is used to define how serious the brain injury is.
The severity of the brain injury will determine the effects of it. With relatively minor head injuries the only symptom may be epilepsy. For more serious brain injury this may cause a coma or epilepsy.
If you have any doubts or concerns after suffering from a head injury, the best course of action is to seek medical advice.
Head Injury UK are specialist brain injury solicitors experienced in dealing with head and brain injury claims. We focus on providing specialist rehabilitation to assist with your recovery and strive to obtain maximum compensation in every case whilst maintaining a respectful and professional relationship. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/the-effects-and-symptoms-of-a-brain-injury-882685.html
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