Symptoms that may lead to a brain injury diagnosis

On Behalf of | May 5, 2021 | personal injury |

When anyone is brought to a North Carolina emergency room or trauma center, certain symptoms may prompt an attending physician to order a CT scan of the patient’s head. This a valuable medical tool that can help a physician determine whether a specific patient has suffered a traumatic brain injury. In conjunction with medical tests, close observation of a patient, as well as compiling a list of symptoms that are present at the time (or have been recently present) can also influence a doctor’s diagnosis.

Symptoms of concern following blunt force trauma or a sudden jolt

Any number of situations may result in a traumatic brain injury, including a motor vehicle collision, a sporting accident or a mishap such as falling down a flight of stairs. The following list shows numerous symptoms that would prompt the average ER physician to suspect a possible brain injury:

  • Tinnitus (ringing in ear)
  • Muscle weakness in extremities
  • Headache or facial pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Impaired vision or speech
  • Erratic mood swings
  • Inability to focus on a task
  • Trouble remembering basic facts
  • Inability to follow simple instructions

A person seeking medical examination at an emergency room or primary care doctor’s office regarding such symptoms will want to make sure to inform the physician of any recent blunt force trauma or sudden jolting of the upper body that may have occurred.

A catastrophic brain injury may have long-term implications

A person who suffers a traumatic brain injury will undoubtedly need support from close friends and family members, as well as an experienced medical team, during his or her recovery. Sadly, many catastrophic brain injuries result in permanent disability, leaving a patient unable to function on a daily basis without personal care support. If another person’s negligence caused a brain injury to occur, a recovering patient may seek restitution by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court. While court-awarded compensation cannot make a brain injury disappear, it can provide financial relief to a patient to help cover medical bills and other expenses associated with the injury.