Frequently Asked Questions

A neurological injury may have different types of symptoms, including:

Physical

Physical symptoms include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to light, noise, or smell
• Blurry vision
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Balance problems

Emotional

Emotional symptoms include feelings of:

• Irritability
• Sadness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• More emotional

Cognitive

Cognitive symptoms of a neurological injury include:

• Problems processing information
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems

Sleep

Sleep problems following a neurological injury include:

• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble waking up

When a traumatic brain injury is severe or is not properly treated, it can result in many long-term effects, including:

• Permanent change in personality
• Communication problems
• Persistent headaches that last for months
• Difficulty with executive functioning
• Altered consciousness, including coma
• Seizures
• Infections
• Hydrocephalus
• Damage to blood vessels
• Lack of coordination
• Paralysis of facial muscles
• Loss of vision
• Loss of or altered sense of taste or smell

TBIs are usually caused by a sudden blow to the head, which can occur in:

• Sports
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Violent attacks and assaults
• Gunshot wounds
• Explosions
• Situations where you are struck by an object

Some traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, may occur right away. However, other symptoms may not manifest right away. Some may even take months to develop. If you suffered a blow to the head or otherwise suspect you could have a TBI, watch out for these common symptoms:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Convulsions
• Seizures
• Drainage of clear fluids from the ears or nose
• Loss of coordination or difficulty balancing
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the fingers or toes
• Difficulty sleeping or waking up
• Sleeping more than normal
• Feelings of depression or anxiety
• Mood changes

There are various types of treatments for TBIs, including:

• Physical exam – A doctor can ask about the source of your injury and the circumstances surrounding it. He or she can also check if there is apparent physical injury to your head and monitor your symptoms.
• Neurological exams – A doctor may give you tests to see if your cognitive abilities have been negatively affected.
• Imaging tests – A doctor may order imaging tests such as MRIs or CT scans to get a better picture of your brain and the damage.

If you make a claim under an auto insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, or disability insurance policy, you may be requested to attend an independent medical exam. This type of exam is given for the purpose of gathering more information about your injury and to determine if it is covered by insurance.

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are non-invasive tests that measure electrical impulses in the body, specifically in the brain. It is a brain imaging test that uses scalp electrodes to measure the fluctuations in voltage caused by the mass electrical activity of neurons. Electromyography (EMG) is a technique that records electrical activity that skeletal muscles produce.