Computer Uses Eye Movements to Diagnose Concussions or Traumatic Brain Injury
A new eye-tracking technology, which acts similarly to a doctor moving their finger in front of a patient’s eyes, can help diagnose concussions or traumatic brain injury after an accident or head impact. If you suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury from an accident or defective product, it’s important that you call the South Carolina TBI Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm to see if we can help.
With the follow-my-finger method, Dr. Uzma Samadani of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City said, “Each doctor is going to have variability in how well they’re going to be able to assess how well a person is getting better.”
Dr. Samadani helped develop the concussion-diagnosing technology, she said, because she needed a more reliable and reproducible way to diagnose concussions or traumatic brain injuries in patients.
A disorder called “disconjugated eye movement,” when the eyes do not track movement together has been a method of diagnosing concussions for centuries. The new technology allows doctors to see this type of eye motion more clearly.
In Samadani’s study, 75 people who had been in accidents (whether or not the accident involved head trauma), and 64 healthy volunteers watched a 4-minute video while a computer tracked their eye motions to see how well they followed the movements on the screen. The program was very accurate in diagnosing concussions and traumatic brain injuries – finding 90% of the concussion patients, including in patients who did not have a noticeable head injury on a CT scan.
“Two patients who suffer a head injury and present with virtually-identical CT-scans might have completely different symptoms,” says Samadani. “That’s where eye-tracking can help objectively reveal when one patient may be much more affected by a concussion than another.”
Researchers also found that the severity of the eye movement disorder was linked to the severity of the concussion, which will help more severe traumatic brain injuries receive better medical attention in the future.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussions Could Mean Long-Term Medical Problems
Common concussion and traumatic brain injury symptoms include:
- Headache;
- Confusion,;
- Lightheadedness;
- Dizziness;
- Blurred vision or tired eyes;
- Ringing in the ears;
- Bad taste in the mouth;
- Fatigue or lethargy;
- Changes in sleep patterns;
- Behavioral or mood changes; and
- Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is classified as if mild if loss of consciousness and/or confusion and disorientation is shorter than 30 minutes. MRI and CAT scans are often normal.
We also represent families of athletes who have concussions
Anyone with signs of moderate or severe TBI should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by trauma, so medical personnel try to stabilize an individual with TBI and focus on preventing further injury. Primary concerns include insuring proper oxygen supply to the brain and the body, maintaining adequate blood flow, and controlling blood pressure. If you have suffered a concussion or TBI due to an accident or injury from a defective product, please contact the South Carolina TBI Attorneys to see if we can help.
The Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a concussion after an automobile accident or injury from a defective product, it is not too late to get help. The South Carolina TBI attorneys at the Strom Law Firm offer free consultations to discuss the incident that led to traumatic brain injury and determine if you have a personal injury case. Contact us today. 803.252.4800.
