You’ve just experienced a blow to the head; your walkway was icier than you realized (the superintendent forgot to salt it, yet again), and you slipped backwards, knocking your head against the pavement. “It sounds bad,” you tell your friends and family, “but I’m fine—just a bit banged up.” Then, as the days and weeks progress, you start noticing more headaches, more sleepless nights, blurred vision…
This situation, or some permutation of it, is where mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) can be most harmful. Since mTBIs aren’t outwardly visible, and the accidents from which they develop often seem minor enough not to warrant any medical treatment, these injuries frequently go untreated, leaving victims with persistent symptoms that last for years—or even a lifetime. Thankfully, when it comes to diagnosing, treating, and living with an mTBI, you can rest your head on the shoulders of a brain injury expert in Ontario.
Diagnosing mTBIs
Considering that mTBIs are amongst the most common neurological injuries, with estimates in Ontario running from 493 to 653 afflicted citizens per 100,000, diagnostics remain somewhat limited. The difficulty in accurately and effectively diagnosing mTBIs, or any closed head injury for that matter, is that the damage is invisible on the exterior. As such, a brain injury expert in Ontario will have been trained to use a standardized testing system, like the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, to evaluate whether your responses indicate an mTBI.
- Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire Overview
- This is a simple questionnaire given to those who may have experienced an mTBI, asking them to compare their current state with their state before the accident, on a scale of 0 – 4 (with 0 being not experienced, and 4 being severely problematic).
- The categories assessed include: headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, mood changes, cognition issues, vision issues, and others.
A standardized test remains the most effective way to diagnose neurological injuries short of a CT scan. However, if your injury seemed minor at the time and you chose not to go to the hospital or see a health care professional, there are certain warning signs that you should be aware of:
- Warning Signs for mTBIs
- Fainting, blackouts, drowsiness, or extreme difficulty waking up;
- Constant severe headaches or headaches that worsen over time;
- Vomiting more than twice;
- Difficulty remembering new events and recognising familiar people or places;
- Marked change in behaviour;
- Blurred vision or slurred speech;
- Loss of balance;
- Frequent nose bleeds;
Should any of these symptoms arise in the days and weeks following your accident, go to the nearest hospital or doctor immediately.
Help Where You Need It after an mTBI
In some cases, the symptoms of an mTBI will persist and even worsen over time. You may have chronic headaches, sleep disturbance, cognitive difficulties, vision disorders, fatigue, balance issues, or even mental health disorders. With such symptoms, and even with the help of a brain injury expert in Ontario, many find it necessary to take time off work and focus on recovery. But, of course, with missed work comes lost income. If you're struggling after a serious head injury, an experienced law attorney can help you sort out responsibility: because, after a traumatic brain injury, peace of mind is the least you can hope for.
Source:
http://onf.org/system/attachments/60/original/Guidelines_for_Mild_Traumatic_Brain_Injury_and_Persistent_Symptoms.pdf