Every traumatic brain injury has the potential to cause lifelong physical and emotional impairments. Even a so-called “minor” TBI (more commonly called a “concussion”) can leave a victim battling debilitating symptoms for the rest of his or her life.
Here are just some of the ways a TBI can affect the injured person.
Sensory, physical, and motor impairments. A TBI can affect a person’s senses in a variety of ways, such as by causing tunnel vision, light sensitivity, and ringing in the ears. Some people recovering from a TBI suffer from persistent, painful headaches. Others experience exaggerated fatigue or, conversely, struggle with disrupted sleep. TBIs can also interfere with the brain’s ability to communicate with the body, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, balance problems, or loss of dexterity and fine motor skills.
Cognitive impairments. TBI victims commonly experience a range of cognitive deficits and struggles. In the immediate aftermath of the injury they frequently suffer from disorientation and confusion. In the longer term, a traumatic brain injury can (at least temporarily) rob a victim of the ability to reason, to concentrate, to recall names, faces, or facts, and even to read, write, and speak.
Personality changes and emotional impairments. Survivors of a TBI also frequently exhibit changes in their mood and affect. They may, in fact, seem like a different person in some respects. A TBI can interfere with a person’s ability to regulate emotions and to read other people’s emotions and body language. It can also spur bouts of depression and anxiety.
No matter how a TBI has affected you or a loved one, contact an experienced Philadelphia brain injury lawyer to learn about your potential legal rights.