HOW TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AFFECTS QUALITY OF LIFE

POSTED BY SAM MUKERJI ON August 29, 2014

Every year millions of people sustain severe injuries that require immediate medical attention, and it is when the damage from these injuries doesn’t heal that individuals are diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury can vary in severity, but one thing that is standard in all cases is that the individual who suffers from it sees their quality of life dramatically altered.

Statistics on Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury affects thousands of people every year, and some of the statistics regarding these injuries include that:

  • Those age 15-24 have the highest rate of traumatic brain injury caused by vehicle accidents
  • Males sustain traumatic brain injuries more often than women
  • Those over the age of 65 are the most likely to be hospitalized due to a traumatic brain injury, and are also the most likely to die because of it

Treatment Methods

Those with traumatic brain injury will often discover that modern medicine doesn’t have any solution for fixing the damage to the brain that has already been done. Instead, individuals with TBI will most likely undergo treatment methods aimed at preventing any further damage from occurring.

The level of treatment will also depend on the extent of the injury, and in some cases patients will be required to undergo extensive physical therapy in order to restore their primary motor functions.

Signs of TBI

Those who have been injured may not even be aware that they have traumatic brain injury until the symptoms become apparent. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Problems with thinking abilities such as memory or problem solving
  • Emotional problems in which the victim displays more rapid mood swings or is excessively irritable or depressed
  • Physical signs such as severe headaches, nausea or fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances such as insomnia or the desire to sleep for excessively long periods of time

Children with TBI

Determining whether or not a child has traumatic brain injury can be difficult because many of the signs may appear differently. Signs in children may include:

  • Excessive crying during which the child can’t be comforted
  • Changes in eating habits not consistent with normal development
  • No interest in playthings that were once enjoyed
  • Disruption of normal sleep patterns

If a parent notices any of these signs they should take their child to a medical professional immediately. If traumatic brain injury goes untreated in a child it can lead to severe learning or developmental disabilities that may drastically alter the quality of life the child has as they get older.

Getting Legal Assistance

TBI is a very serious condition. Those who have been affected will experience health and mental issues for the rest of their lives. The best course of action you can take is to speak with a qualified legal representative. Schedule your free case review today by calling 713-222-1222.

*Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

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