Telltale Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury

While concussions might be recognized as the most common traumatic brain injury (TBI), there are other types as well, each producing unpredictable effects that may be difficult to diagnose and treat. Any injury to the brain can include a wide range of symptoms, including physical, mental, behavioral, cognitive, and sensory problems. 

Though Dr. Krishna Doniparthi of NAD in Georgia in Alpharetta, Georgia, specializes in the treatment of addiction, his methods and techniques of brain restoration work well when applied to TBIs as well. You’ll undergo a thorough evaluation to establish a treatment approach that’s well-suited for your symptoms. 

Of course, the first step in treating a TBI is recognizing an injury exists. We’ve prepared this primer to help you recognize the telltale signs of a traumatic brain injury. Contact us as soon as you notice potential symptoms, particularly following an event that could cause injury. 

Types of TBI

Brain trauma occurs most frequently when you sustain a blow to the head. While not every impact causes a brain injury, auto accidents and falls are the leading causes of concussion, the most common form of TBI. 

Concussion can happen without a direct blow. Whiplash can create enough violent force to cause a brain injury, also a part of shaken baby syndrome.  

Concussion is not, however, the only type of TBI. You can suffer a brain injury from events that penetrate brain tissue, such as from gunshots or combat events. All TBI injuries are potentially serious, even though they may be classed as mild, moderate, or severe. Unlike a cut, your recovery from a TBI may not have any relation to the severity of the original injury.

Telltale signs of a traumatic brain injury

While there are plenty of common symptoms of TBI, you may not experience all of them or in a combination that’s similar to others who have comparable injuries.

Physical symptoms

• Headache that may get worse with more serious injuries
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Speech difficulties
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Pupil dilation in one or both eyes
• Clear fluid drainage from ears or nose
• Coordination problems

Sensory issues

• Blurry vision
• Changes to senses of smell and taste
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Behavioral, cognitive and mental symptoms

• Confusion, from mild to profound
• Feelings of disorientation
• Brief loss of consciousness 
• Longer periods of unconsciousness with more serious injuries
• Problems with memory
• Mood changes
• Uncharacteristic agitation or aggressiveness
• Anxiety and depression
• Changes to sleep patterns

Recognizing TBIs in children often depends on observation when they can’t communicate their symptoms. Watch for changes in their usual patterns of behavior, including mood, eating, crying, or loss of interest in activities or toys they usually enjoy. 

When you suspect a TBI, contact us at NAD in Georgia, by phone or online, to schedule an exam and consultation with Dr. Doniparthi and his team. Every TBI is potentially serious. Don’t delay. Book your visit now.