According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2.5 million emergency department visits per year result from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). An average of 153 people in the United States die every day due to TBIs. Yet what about the victims who don’t die? Those who instead have to live with the effects of a brain injury? These individuals often face cognitive and physical challenges in their daily lives because of their injuries. For some, symptoms may be temporary, while others have to live with effects of a TBI.
Difficulty with Language
Injuries to the left side of the brain can cause difficulties in language recognition and verbal output. This is because the left side of the brain is responsible for analysis and logic. Someone with this type of TBI could have trouble understanding language and speaking. He or she may have poor oral motor function, comprehension, and production of oral or written language. Difficulty talking and listening can make these methods of communication almost impossible for TBI victims.
Cognitive Problems
TBI victims can show impaired cognitive skills in all areas. No part of the brain is safe in an impact from a fall, car accident, or other blunt force. Cognitive symptoms can differ depending on the area of the brain affected. Every TBI is different, and no two victims will show the same cognitive impairments. However, common issues after a TBI include:
- Reduced thinking speed
- Memory problems
- Impaired logic
- Difficulty sequencing things
- Altered creativity
- Loss of ability to see the big picture
- Confusion
- Problems concentrating
- Trouble learning new things
- Develop unusual habits
- Poor judgment
TBI victims can also suffer changes in mental wellness since brain regulates this area. Victims may suffer depression, anxiety, and have catastrophic reactions to everyday occurrences. They may also experience irritability, mood swings, or aggression. Injuries to the left side of the brain can cause these consequences, as well as the emotional battle of living with a brain injury. Unfortunately, TBI recovery often doesn’t meet the cognitive needs of victims, including problem solving improvement and managing stress and emotional upsets.
Physical Problems
On top of often debilitating cognitive damages, people living with TBIs can also suffer motor function problems. A brain injury can affect smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound. Victims may experience dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, ringing in the ears, vision problems, and involuntary muscle contractions. In extreme cases, TBI victims may suffer paralysis or severe muscle tightening, as well as issues with weakness and poor coordination. Many people with TBIs have to rely on live-in care for basic, everyday needs such as eating or bathing, which can cause psychological, emotional, and financial harm.
Personal Plights
A TBI can lead to major or minor personality changes, such as problems socializing, inability to show empathy toward others, and a tendency to be more self-centered. Difficulty finding employment and behavioral changes can make a TBI victim feel more depressed and suffer emotionally. For many people, TBI symptoms are persistent and lifelong. Victims may have problems with basic needs, such as housing, jobs, transportation, and personal care.
There is no cure for traumatic brain injuries, although treatment options can help reduce or control symptoms. Patients with TBIs may need to request financial assistance and seek special housing opportunities from their local Departments of Health. Some rehabilitations centers or community support programs offer help to those with permanent brain injuries. Otherwise, maintaining a home environment can prove impossible for someone with a brain injury.
To help with the financial effects of a TBI, victims of accidents can speak with a Riverside brain injury lawyer at Estey & Bomberger, LLP. A lawsuit could end in the compensation you need to live successfully with a TBI. Contact them at their Riverside office today! 951-543-9020