Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms – Long Term

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from a mild concussion to a severe head injury. With rest, most people fully recover from a mild brain injury. However, some people who have had a severe brain injury may have long-lasting problems with movement, learning, or speaking. Ultimately interfering with their ability to work and function on a daily basis.

Long-Term TBI Symptoms

Long after the brain injury, you may still feel mental and physical effects (postconcussive syndrome), or new symptoms may develop. Those may include: 

• Headaches: headaches can evolve into chronic pain, which can make even the lightest activities difficult.
• Concentration and Memory: brain injuries can affect a victim’s ability to concentrate. It may be hard to learn a lot of new information at once, or they may not be able to remember things that just happened.
• Communication: trouble expressing themselves clearly or understanding what other people are saying. In a group of people, victims might find it hard to keep up with conversation.
• Emotions: anxiety, depression, rapid mood changes, or no longer interested in things previously enjoyed. Emotional ups and downs may be tied to struggles with speaking, thinking, and memory.
• Sleep: changes in sleep patterns, such as not being able to fall or stay asleep, or fatigue. Not getting enough sleep or never feeling rested can affect recovery and the severity of other symptoms.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Along with the physical damage from a brain injury, the trauma of the injury can cause long-lasting effects. Victims may have fears about a loss of safety and control in their life, causing them to pull away from friends and family, work all the time, or use drugs or alcohol. 
• Developmental problems: In children, even a mild brain injury can interrupt the brain’s development. This can have a permanent effect on a child’s ability to keep up with his or her peers. 

Long-Term Financial Effects

The emotional and financial repercussions of a TBI often place tremendous strain on the person who suffers it, as well as on his or her family. Victims often struggle to pay medical bills, as they continue to lose income. In the long term, cognitive problems may affect financial management altogether.

Modifications to the home may be required, an extensive rehabilitation program may be necessary for the victim, as well as a long-term care plan, caregivers, housing, counseling, support groups speech and language therapy, and more. Lifetime costs for one person surviving a severe TBI can reach $4 million. Add to this the fact that the victim may have been the breadwinner, and the injury becomes that much more financially debilitating to the entire family unit.

A Skilled Attorney Can Help

Finding a skilled attorney is critical to obtaining the amount of compensation you and your family will need long-term. Our knowledgeable and experienced legal team will work with you, as well as with an extensive team of medical experts and health professionals to ensure your financial future is protected. Contact us today for a free consultation.