Most people experience memory loss as they age. It can manifest as constantly misplacing your keys, difficulty figuring out all the new apps on your tablet, forgetting for the life of you the name of your neighbour’s dog, or so many other small things. But, after a car accident head injury, these symptoms can progress far beyond the normal aging process: you might get lost around your own house, lose the ability to follow directions, or forget the names of your close friends and relatives. Any auto accident lawyer or Toronto personal injury lawyer will have experience preparing cases for victims of memory loss, and will know about memory loss problems.
Distinguishing between Normal Memory Loss and Serious Memory Problems
If you’re above fifty, normal memory loss might start to show up. This can raise issues if you’ve also been in a motor vehicle accident, since memory loss as a result of your injuries can impact your compensatory damages, but only if that memory loss can be definitively tied to your injuries. As above, mild forgetfulness is usually characterized by small lapses like forgetting glasses on your head or the recipe to your world famous baked ziti. If these issues become more frequent than you’re comfortable with, see your doctor. You can also alleviate the onset of age-related forgetfulness by:
- Learning a new skill;
- Volunteering at a local school, charity, or place of worship to stay active;
- Using memory tools like calendars, to-do lists, and notes-to-self;
- Putting your wallet, keys, etc. in the same place every day;
- Playing cards or even video games; and
- Refraining from drinking alcohol excessively.
However, coping with serious memory loss after a motor vehicle accident can be more strenuous.
Strategies for Serious Memory Loss
As opposed to mild forgetfulness, dealing with serious memory problems requires a systematic effort across multiple aspects of the sufferer’s life. While an auto accident lawyer at a Toronto personal injury law firm can certainly provide suggestions, you should always seek out medical professionals and therapists for advice on dealing with disabilities. Nonetheless, there are a few areas you can easily address independently or with the help of family and friends.
- Follow a Set Routine
- Memory works in a few different ways. Declarative memory, or your conscious memory of things like facts, images, events, etc., is often lessened after a serious brain injury. But interestingly, procedural memory, or the memory of how to perform rote tasks, usually remains intact (e.g. “It’s like riding a bike!”) By using external reminders to stick to a strict daily or weekly routine, patients can stimulate their procedural memory and become more autonomous.
- Focus on General Well-Being
- Since memory is such a crucial aspect, if not the only aspect, of how we construct our identities, many people suffering from memory issues experience emotional strife. If you have intense feelings of anger, frustration, depression, or anxiety, share those feelings with others and consult a therapist; don’t be afraid to seek help.
If you doctor finds that your memory loss is severe enough to be a symptom of your car accident injury, you should find a good auto accident lawyer. An auto accident lawyer at a Toronto personal injury law firm can secure adequate compensation for the damages you’ve suffered after an accident.
Sources:
http://nbia.ca/pdfs/coping-with-memory-problems.pdf
https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/understanding-memory-loss/differences-between-mild-forgetfulness-and-more