Brain Injury Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a brain injury?

Depending on the type and severity of the injury, brain injury symptoms can vary considerably. Some symptoms are apparent immediately while others may develop over the following hours or days. A person may also appear physically well while experiencing problems with memory, concentration, mood or behaviour.

Symptoms will differ from person to person and the absence of an obvious symptom does not necessarily mean that a brain injury has not occurred.

Symptoms immediately after a brain injury

A person may experience a headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light or noise, confusion and problems with balance.

More serious symptoms can include seizures, weakness, difficulty speaking or significant changes in behaviour.

It is important not to assume that someone has avoided a brain injury because they remained conscious or were able to communicate normally after an accident.

Symptoms that develop in the hours or days afterwards

Problems can in some cases become noticeable once the immediate effects of the accident have subsided.

Cognitive symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, feeling mentally slowed down or struggling to process information or complete tasks that would normally be straightforward. Such difficulties may be particularly noticeable when the person returns to work or to education.

Physical symptoms can include lingering headaches, fatigue, changes in vision or hearing, taste or smell.

Sleep can also be affected, with some people sleeping more substantially than usual while others may have difficulty staying asleep.

Changes in mood and behaviour whereby a person may become unusually irritable, anxious or withdrawn, experience low mood or have difficulty controlling their emotions.

Longer term effects of brain injury

The longer-term effects can span months, sometimes years, deeply impacting a person’s cognitive, physical and emotional health.

Cognitively, individuals often struggle with memory loss, poor concentration and slow information processing.

Physically the injury can lead to chronic fatigue, persistent headaches and post traumatic seizures.

All of which can be compounded by emotional challenges including depression and shifts in personality.

The symptoms outlined above are not a definitive list, if something feels wrong, that instinct is worth listening to, seek medical attention.

Our solicitors have spent years working on brain injury claims and we bring that experience to every client that we represent.

Whatever stage you are at, whether you are still piecing together what happened or well into a difficult recovery, our specialist team is here to help you and your family.

We understand the medical complexities involved and we are committed to helping you move forward.