Watch for Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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When presenting a case involving a brain injury, I will often hear from insurance adjusters, insurance doctors and insurance lawyers, "but the MRI and CT was normal so there can't be a brain injury. " This is absolutly not true.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) symptoms may appear mild, but they can lead to significant, life-long impairment in an individual's ability to function physically, cognitively and psychologically.
Here are some statistics from the CDC regarding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and MTBI :
Each year in the United States:
• Approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild to severe;
TBI:
• 50,000 people die from TBIs;
• 230,000 people are hospitalized due to TBIs and survive;
• More than 1 million are treated in emergency departments for TBIs;
• An estimated $56 billion is spent in direct and indirect costs as a result of all TBIs;
• 80,000 to 90,000 Americans experience onset of long-term disability from TBIs.
MTBI
• Data suggest that as many as 75% of all brain-injured people sustain MTBIs.
• MTBIs cost the nation nearly $17 billion each year.
• An unknown proportion of those who are not hospitalized may experience long-term problems, such as:
• In most cases of diagnosed MTBI, the patient recovers fully.
• Some research indicates that up to 15% of patients diagnosed with MTBI may have experienced persistent disabling problems.
- Persistent headache,
- Confusion,
- Pain,
- Cognitive and/or memory problems,
- Fatigue,
- Changes in sleep patterns,
- Mood changes, and/or
- Sensory problems such as changes in vision or hearing (post-concussion syndrome).
It has been my experience that often time, it is family and friends who observe these symptoms more than the injured person. It has also been my experience that family doctors do not do a good job at recognizing and diagnosing MTBI.
If you see these symptoms in a friend or family member, it is important to get an evaluation by a Clinical Neuropsychologist.