Brain Injuries
A brain injury is a devastating event – not just for the victim, but also for his or her loved ones. Coping with the adjustments that are required is a monumental daily challenge. Understanding brain injuries can help the victim, family and friends to identify and confront the issues as they come up.
What are the common causes of brain injury?
The brain can be injured by an internal event, such as a stroke or seizure. Traumatic brain injury (or TBI), as the name suggests, is generally the result of an external event (or trauma) to the head, such as from a car accident, gun shot or fall. While some – such as from a bullet wound – are defined as open head injuries, closed head injuries can be deceptive. Although there may be no obvious outward signs following a head trauma, the brain can still be injured by the action of colliding with the skull. Although even a minor brain injury is a cause for concern, bleeding and bruising from a severe trauma is cause for immediate action, especially in closed head injuries, as uncontrolled swelling may occur. When the brain swells, it has limited space to expand within the skull and can choke off other parts of the brain or the brain stem, causing permanent damage and even death.
In Florida, including Brevard County, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury.[1] Other common causes of closed head injury in Florida, including Melbourne, Titusville and Palm Bay are motor vehicle accidents and assaults.
What are the effects of closed head injury?
A brain injury may be mild, resulting in temporary loss of consciousness and memory disturbance – especially just before and after the trauma. Most traumatic brain injuries are mild and may be referred to as a mild brain injury, MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury) minor head trauma or simply, a concussion.[1] If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury – even a mild one – there are cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms, depending on severity and part of the brain injured:[1]
- Trouble concentrating, even while working on enjoyable tasks
- Short- or long-term memory loss
- Difficulty in understanding speech or writing
- Trouble with processing information
- Speech problems, such as not being able to find appropriate words
- Disorientation, or a sense of unreality
Physical :
- Lessening, changing or loss of senses (e.g. blurry vision or change in tastes)
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Speech problems, such as slurring or stuttering
- Headaches
- Loss of balance; dizziness
- Seizures
Emotional :
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Increased agitation
- Anxiety
How is brain injury diagnosed?
Brain injury is determined and measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale, which tests the patient’s ability to perform certain tasks.[2] If injury is suspected, imaging tests are then used to identify physical damage to the brain. In the case of potential swelling, an intracranial pressure monitor may also be used while the patient is in the hospital.
How we can help
Couture Law, P.A. works with a number of leading brain injury treatment providers in Brevard County, and can provide referrals to those who are best able to answer your questions.
Couture Law, P.A. represents spinal cord injury victims in Brevard County and its major cities, including Melbourne, Titusville, Palm Bay and surrounding cities and towns.
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