What Are The Possible Results Of Brain Injury?

[allan]

What are the possible results of brain injury?

Some brain injuries are mild, with symptoms disappearing over time with proper attention. Others are more severe and may result in permanent disability. The long-term or permanent results of brain injury may require post-injury and possibly life-long rehabilitation. Effects of brain injury may include:

cognitive deficits

• coma
  
• confusion
  
• shortened attention span
  
• memory problems and amnesia
  
• problem solving deficits
  
• problems with judgment
  
• inability to understand abstract concepts
  
• loss of sense of time and space
  
• decreased awareness of self and others
  
• inability to accept more than one- or two-step commands simultaneously
  
  
  
  • paralysis or weakness
    
  • spasticity (tightening and shortening of the muscles)
    
  • poor balance
    
  • decreased endurance
    
  • inability to plan motor movements
    
  • delays in initiation
    
  • tremors
    
  • swallowing problems
    
  • poor coordination
    
    
    
    • changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch
      
    • loss of sensation or heightened sensation of body parts
      
    • left- or right-sided neglect
      
    • difficulty understanding where limbs are in relation to the body
      
    • vision problems, including double vision, lack of visual acuity, or limited range of vision
      
      
      
      • difficulty speaking and understanding speech (aphasia)
        
      • difficulty choosing the right words to say (apraxia)
        
      • slow, hesitant speech and decreased vocabulary
        
      • difficulty forming sentences that make sense
        
      • problems identifying objects and their function
        
      • problems with reading, writing, and ability to work with numbers
        
        
        

impaired ability with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, and eating
problems with organization, shopping, or paying bills
problems with vocational issues
inability to drive a car or operate machinery

social difficulties

[*]impaired social capacity resulting in self-centered behavior

[*]difficulties in making and keeping friends

[*]difficulties understanding and responding to the nuances of social interaction

regulatory disturbances

[*]fatigue

[*]changes in sleep patterns and eating habits

[*]dizziness

[*]headache

[*]loss of bowel and bladder control

personality or psychiatric changes

[*]apathy

[*]decreased motivation

[*]emotional lability

[*]irritability

[*]anxiety and depression

[*]disinhibition, including temper flare-ups, aggression, cursing, lowered frustration tolerance, and inappropriate sexual behavior

Certain psychiatric disorders are more likely to develop if damage changes the chemical composition of the brain.

traumatic epilepsy

Epilepsy occurs in 2 to 5 percent of all people who sustain brain injury, but it is much more common with severe or penetrating injuries. While most seizures occur immediately after the injury, or within the first year, it is also possible for epilepsy to surface years later. Epilepsy includes both major or generalized seizures and minor or partial seizures.

functional deficits communication and language deficits perceptual or sensory deficits motor deficits

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

Allan, thank you for this timely post. if you read my last thread you will see I am having a problem with this TBI. I suffer from many of the deficits that are listed in your post, but, cannot get the VA to even diagnose it.

[allan]

They labeled me with, "neuromuscular disorder of unknown cause" for over a decade and left it at that.

If your MRI's are showing brain lesions in the white matter? Make sure to point this out to the neurologist. In fact any abnormalities with MRI's cat scans etc should be discussed over and over untill they get the idea your not going to give up untill you have a "diagnoses" of what it is.

The VAMC neurologists are very reluctant to provide firm diagnoses for some reason.

It blew me away to see so much of my behavior on one list.

Hope this helps............

Allan