Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
What Are the Most Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain that typically occurs as the result of a forceful blow to the head or body. There are different types of traumatic brain injuries, including closed head injuries (in which nothing touches the brain) and penetrating brain injuries (such as with gunshot wounds). TBIs can be mild, moderate or severe.
It’s not uncommon for people who suffer TBIs, and their loved ones, to be unfamiliar with the signs of this type of injury and what to do if it occurs. What’s the most common type of traumatic brain injury? Concussions, which are generally considered to be mild, occur more often than other TBIs. However, having repeated concussions is believed to increase the risk of other brain-related conditions in the future.
Different Types of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The different types of mild traumatic brain injury produce a range of symptoms, which may occur immediately or as long as weeks later. They include headache, lightheadedness, confusion, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or sound, mood changes, and dizziness. People with various types of mild traumatic brain injury may also experience speech problems, fatigue, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting.
While the symptoms may resolve on their own, it’s still a good idea to seek medical attention to confirm that nothing more serious is causing the symptoms.
Different Types of Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
People who have one of the different types of moderate traumatic brain injury can experience a variety of symptoms. This includes those of a mild TBI plus a headache that worsens or won’t go away, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, and disorientation. Patients may also exhibit dilation of one or both pupils, weakness or numbness in their fingers or toes, and clear fluid draining from the ears or nose. A moderate traumatic brain injury is a condition that requires prompt medical attention.
Different Types of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The different types of severe traumatic brain injuries require immediate medical care. Symptoms include those of a moderate TBI plus loss of consciousness, convulsions or seizures, the inability to wake from sleep, and internal bleeding. People with severe TBI may also experience slurred speech, profound confusion, and agitation or combativeness. Symptoms may appear within hours to days following the head injury.
Learn More About Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injury with the Baptist Health Blog
If you or a loved one may be experiencing symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, find a neurologist or neurosurgeon with Baptist Health today. Also, learn about the causes and symptoms of different types of traumatic brain injury and more from Baptist Health’s blog.
