Signs of a Brain Injury
The following are some signs of brain injury:
- severe headache that does not go way or get better
- changes in taste, hearing, smell, touch, sight
- seizures: eyes fluttering, body going stiff, staring into space
- memory problems
- confusion
- hands shake, tremors, muscles get weak, loss of muscle tone
- repeated nausea or vomiting
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness, balance problems
- Changes in behavior
- Loss of motivation, “can’t get started”
- Problems following conversations, paying attention
- Problems communicating
For more signs and symptoms, please download the flyer “When Your Head Has Been Hurt” or “When Your Child’s Head Has Been Hurt”.
If you or your loved one experiences several of the above symptoms, seek medical advice. Your primary care doctor can evaluate you and make referrals to specialists, such as neurologists or neuropsychologists. Visit the Resources section of this website for a more detailed description of the specialists involved in brain injury identification and rehabilitation. Call BIANYS at 1-800-444-6443 or contact us via email [info@bianys.org] for assistance locating services in your area.
Citations
- Statistics are based on Centers for Disease Control data. Actual incidence may be much higher than this statistic shows. For more information on the incidence of traumatic brain injury, see Centers for Disease Control Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Fact Sheet
- For more information about stroke in the United States, see Centers for Disease Control Stroke Facts
- For more information about falls among older adults, see Centers for Disease Control Falls Among Older Adults