AdvisaCare

Signs & Symptoms of a Brain Injury


Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later.

Mild traumatic brain injury

The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) may include:
 Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
 No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
 Memory or concentration problems
 Headache
 Dizziness or loss of balance
 Nausea or vomiting
 Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth
 Sensitivity to light or sound
 Mood changes or mood swings
 Feeling depressed or anxious
 Fatigue or drowsiness
 Difficulty sleeping
 Sleeping more than usual


Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury, as well as the following symptoms that may appear within the first hours to days after a head injury:
 Loss of consciousness from a few minutes to hours
 Profound onfusion
 Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
 Slurred speech
 Inability to awaken from sleep
 Weakness or numbness in the extremities
 Loss of coordination
 Loss of bladder control or bowel control
 Persistent headache or headache that worsens
 Repeated vomiting or nausea
 Convulsions or seizures
 Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
 Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears

If you think that you have any of these symptoms and have been in an accident please seek medical treatment with your doctor.