Health Care Professionals say a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is classified as mild if loss of consciousness and/or confusion and disorientation lasts less than 30 minutes. Even though this type of TBI is called “mild,” the effect on the injured individual can be devastating and sometimes fatal.
MRI and CT scans are a normal part of diagnosis and treatment. However, even with treatment, the patient may experience headaches, difficulty thinking, memory problems, attention deficits, mood swings, and frustration, among other symptoms, for weeks or even months after the injury. Because symptoms are subtle, these injuries can be overlooked very easily.
The following names and classifications for brain injuries come from www.traumaticbraininjury.com
Other Names for Mild TBI
- Concussion
- Minor head trauma
- Minor TBI
- Minor brain injury
- Minor head injury
MildTraumatic Brain Injury is:
- The most prevalent form of TBI
- Often missed at time of initial injury
- 15% of people with mild TBI have symptoms that last one year or more.
- Defined as the result of the forceful motion of the head or impact causing a brief change in mental status (confusion, disorientation or loss of memory) or loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes.
- Post-injury symptoms are often referred to as post-concussive syndrome.
Common Symptoms of Mild TBI
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Memory loss
- Poor attention/concentration
- Sleep disturbances
- Dizziness/loss of balance
- Irritability-emotional disturbances
- Feelings of depression
- Seizures
Other Symptoms Associated with Mild TBI
- Nausea
- Loss of smell
- Sensitivity to light and sounds
- Mood changes
- Getting lost or confused
- Slowness in thinking
These symptoms may not be present or noticeable at the time of injury; onset could be delayed for days or weeks. The symptoms are often faint and can be easily missed by the injured person, physicians, and family.
The person looks normal and often moves normally despite not feeling well or thinking clearly, making the diagnosis easy to miss. Family and friends often notice changes in behavior before the injured person realizes there is a problem. Frustration at work or when performing household tasks may lead the person to seek medical care.
