Effects Of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury is a term used to describe a condition where in a physical, external impact to the head has caused damage to the brain. The condition may be labeled as mild traumatic brain injury or severe traumatic brain injury depending on the level of sustained injury.
Usually, concussions are termed as mild traumatic brain injuries because this condition has little or no residual observable symptoms after treatment. On the other hand, severe traumatic brain injury can result in permanent deficiencies and disabilities after treatment. Both a mild and severe traumatic brain injury can result in fatality if the proper treatment is not provided right away.
A mild head trauma can result in severe brain injury if unchecked and untreated. This is why it is important to have a regular CT scan and evaluation immediately after experience of head trauma. This will help health care providers diagnose and provide necessary treatment for the patient if necessary. A doctor will also provide guidelines for the patient so that activities and situations may be avoided as needed.
In the case of severe traumatic brain injury, the patient may experience permanent loss of total or partial cognitive and physical functions. This means that severe traumatic brain injury may result in partial or total memory loss or amnesia; and the patient may also experience decreased cognitive and mental faculties.
A patient may also experience decreased mobility from loss of limb movement or control because of severe traumatic brain injury. Aside from this, speech may also be affected.
As mentioned, these manifestations of sustained trauma may be permanent or temporary. In the event that these are temporary, the proper therapy and care should be administered to the patient for rehabilitation. Physical, cognitive and speech therapies will help patients with severe traumatic brain injury. With necessary therapy, patients may be able to resume normal lives after release from formal medical care.
Severe traumatic brain injury may also result in neurobehavioral modifications as well as neuroendocrine problems. These two common possible effects of severe brain injury are often overlooked because it may initially be asymptomatic and subtle but also because severe physical emergencies may take center stage.
It is however important for severe traumatic brain injury patients to be properly assessed and evaluated by a psychologist and an endocrine specialist as well to be able to provide treatment for patients if necessary.
It can be quite frustrating and difficult for patients with severe traumatic brain injury to cope with reintegration into the community because of certain disabilities that may have occurred as a result of head trauma. Equally and possibly even more difficult for patients is the feeling of isolation and alienation if neurobehavioral problems have not been detected and treated.
The same goes for neuroendocrine problems that go unnoticed in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. This can prove to be quite a problem especially in children since untreated, neuroendocrine problems may cause growth and development retardation.
Family and loved ones of patients with severe brain injury are advised to observe and watch out for tell tale symptoms so that the patient may be given correct attention and treatment when needed. Attention to detail may be needed especially for children with severe traumatic brain injury because sometimes, residual effects of the trauma don't manifest until a few years.
Head Injury Tip #1
Any injury to the head should be taken very seriously. Otherwise, the injured person could suffer from paralysis or even death if necessary medical treatment is not administered immediately. Without conducting some tests, like x-ray and/or CT scan, the injured or the doctor will not know the extent of the injury.
Head Injury Tip #2
Observe the injured person constantly for additional symptoms that may develop. Document these changes meticulously to help the patient's physician in diagnosing the extent of the brain injury, since onset of symptoms may occur days, weeks or months after the initial injury.
Head Injury Tip #3
Get as much details as soon as possible about the incident that caused the traumatic brain injury. Whatever the cause of the injury - car accident, work-related, working around the house, etc., it will be important to have all the details documented in case the cause of the injury ends up in court.