What are the long-term symptoms of a TBI?

You will have difficulty accurately evaluating yourself for injuries after a car crash if you don’t know the symptoms of the most common and debilitating issues you might develop. If you were to base your idea of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) on what you see in the movies or on television shows, you would probably think someone who has a TBI immediately struggles with balance or faints.

Movies also love to show people with dramatic bleeding from their facial orifices to show the audience that the person has an internal injury. Brain injury symptoms can be hard to spot in the real world, especially after a wreck. What kind of long-term symptoms can TBIs cause?

Motor function symptoms

Some of the most prominent and concerning signs of a TBI will include changes to motor function and coordination. Some people even report a difference in their gait or how they move as they walk. Balance issues are also common. Any of these symptoms could affect someone’s job performance, especially if they have a demanding blue-collar career.

Sensory symptoms

A considerable amount of your brain’s functioning power goes directly to processing incoming sensory information. People with TBIs often report blurry vision, ringing in their ears and sometimes even changes to their sense of taste or smell. These changes might affect your quality of life or your ability to continue your career.

Cognitive symptoms

The way that you think and process information might change after a crash. Some people experience confusion and have difficulty with decision-making or rational analysis following a brain injury. Others will feel like they have become less creative.

It is common for people to report changes to their overall mood and personality resulting from a TBI, separate from any emotional distress they experience because of their injury and its impact on their lives. Some people will also report memory problems, ranging from difficulty remembering old information to problems creating new memories.

In a worst-case scenario, someone with a significant TBI may require constant medical help and life support to survive. A brain injury can affect their subconscious bodily functions, like respiration and digestion.

The symptoms of a TBI are so different depending on the circumstances that the average person may have difficulty honestly evaluating themselves. Your best chance at an accurate diagnosis and medical support for your condition will come from seeing a doctor as soon as possible after the car crash. Monitoring yourself and the people you love for signs of traumatic brain injuries after a motor vehicle collision could improve someone’s long-term prognosis or even save their life.