Brain Injuries

Brain injuries: What You Need to Know

A brain injury is a disruption of normal brain function. Car accidents are the primary cause of brain injuries as they tend to occur by a blow to the head or whiplash. Brain injuries can occur without any loss of consciousness and even without any blow to the head (e.g. having head jarred in a car accident).

A brain injury is complex and the severity of symptoms may range from mild to severe, such as unconsciousness or amnesia. Symptoms may be physical, cognitive, behavioral and/or emotional.
Physical symptoms may include:

• Headaches and dizziness;
• Sensitivity to lights, noise or alcohol;
• Sleep disturbance;
• Decreased energy, quickness to fatigue or lethargy.

There may also be cognitive deficits, such as:

• Difficulty maintaining attention or concentrating;
• Short-term memory difficulties;
• Difficulty with the ability to plan and organize, or perform a number of things simultaneously.

Brain injuries may also cause behavioural and emotional changes:

• Irritability;
• Impulsiveness and not knowing what’s socially acceptable;
• Quickness to anger, a temper;
• Mood swings.

Because of this complex interplay of symptoms, deficits and changes, someone with a brain injury is often perceived by those close to them as a different person. Family members and long-time friends and colleagues are in the best position to identify and describe these changes.

If you think you have suffered a brain injury, it is important to discuss any symptoms or observations of others, with your physician. Your physician can order the necessary testing, refer a specialist and provide treatment recommendations.