The ones who are severely impaired usually are receiving services and are easily diagnosed. Leonard estimated that 10 percent to 40 percent of those who have a concussion or mild brain injury still have problems a year later. Symptoms of persistent Postconcussion Syndrome include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, personality changes, depression, anxiety, irritability, poor memory and difficulty concentrating. The research subjects must have at least one symptom and cannot have been unconscious longer than 30 minutes if at all. About 1.5 million Americans suffer a mild brain injury every year, mainly from car wrecks, whiplash, falls, assaults and sports injuries.
Most people probably wouldn t be able to pick out someone who is impaired.
But the injured people and those close to them often notice a difference. They avoid playing cards, for example, because they can t keep track. They stop going to their child s basketball game because the noise causes a headache. Some lose their jobs because they can t perform like they did before the injury. Medical professionals often tell patients their troubles are psychological.