What are some common symptoms of a brain injury?

A brain injury can occur when you experience a sudden and violent jolt or blow to your head. For example, many people sustain brain injuries in car accidents or construction accidents when they hit their heads.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, 223,135 people in the U.S. visited the emergency room to receive care for a traumatic brain injury. Not only are brain injuries common but they can result in a variety of sensory, physical and cognitive symptoms.

Cognitive or behavioral symptoms

If you have a TBI, you may have a hard time remembering things or concentrating on tasks throughout your day. Other cognitive and behavioral symptoms of a brain injury include problems sleeping at night, unpredictable mood swings and changes and feelings of depression or anxiousness.

Sensory symptoms

You may become more sensitive to loud noises or bright lighting if you have a brain injury. You may also experience changes to your ability to smell, experience a ringing sound in your ears or have blurred vision after developing a TBI.

Physical symptoms

A headache, nausea and vomiting and fatigue are all physical symptoms of a brain injury. Other physical symptoms you may develop could include issues with your speech, loss of balance and ongoing dizziness.

After the initial trauma, you may experience certain brain injury symptoms right away while others may show up days or even weeks later. Remember that healing from a brain injury will not happen overnight and to follow your physician’s instructions for recovery to ensure the best possible outcome for your situation.