A blow to the head ranging from serious to mild, directly or indirectly, can cause Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI. The US Centers for Disease Control describes TBI as a result from a traumatic impact with the head, causing injury to the brain which can disrupt normal function. How does this disruption manifest? Studies suggest that brain injuries caused from motor vehicle collisions, violent assaults, falls and unintentional injury can also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other depressive disorders. It can often take as much as six months after the initial trauma for PTSD symptoms to become identifiable. In some cases, it’s difficult to determine where symptoms from a brain injury or TBI end and those of PTSD begin. Both could be simultaneously created via the same violent incident, with PTSD developing as a result of the original traumatic event.
TBI Symptoms
When treating a patient with PTSD or depression, as well as in determining cases of personal injury, it’s important to establish the existence of the TBI as early as possible. There are several observable symptoms of TBI to watch for, such as:
- Headaches
- Memory loss, difficulty focusing
- Exhaustion and sleeping trouble
- Vision changes, sensitivity to light or sounds
- Poor communication or judgement
- Changes in personality- anger outbursts, anxiety, or depression
- Dizziness
PTSD Symptoms
Because oftentimes PTSD can develop after the same incident that causes a TBI, they can have overlapping symptoms. Your loved one diagnosed with TBI may have PTSD and not know it for some time. It’s critical to pay attention to additional symptoms that may show up sometime after the trauma or after the TBI has been diagnosed:
- Mental issues Flashbacks, night terrors, reliving bad memories
- Avoidance Aversions to activities that trigger flashbacks of the traumatic event
- Emotional issues Paranoid or distrustful emotions and thoughts, hyper-awareness, uneasiness, displaced anger
- Sensitivities or behaviors Numb feelings, disinterest, anxiety from loud sounds, trouble sleeping, risk-taking
Signs of undiagnosed TBI or PTSD and depression should be checked out by a specialist as soon as possible. Medical treatment ordered by a physician for a TBI could be extensive while treatment for PTSD might include bedrest, therapy, relaxation, and sometimes medication.
Your insurance may not cover all of the expenses incurred from treatment of a TBI or PTSD. If the TBI happened as a result of an accident, negligence or actions caused by another party, the injured party may qualify for compensation, for the original event as well as the resulting PTSD and/or depression. The Maison Law Firm of Martin Gasparian can walk you through filing a claim for compensatory relief. Don’t put off finding out what your rights are. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
