A recent study of the brains of deceased professional football players shows that nearly all of them suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy ("CTE"). This research on high-performance athletes also sheds some light on what accident victims go through when they suffer trauma to the head. In this post, we explain five common complaints of concussion victims.
1. Sensitivity to Light and/or Sound
Photophobia and phonophobia are two early signs that an accident victim may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. An overpowering desire to be left alone in the dark, away from external stimuli such as light and sound, is often a sign that someone is dealing with a concussion.
2. Difficulties With Concentration
In the days and weeks following a concussion, many accident victims complain about the impact their injuries have on their ability to focus at work, or school, or around their homes. Reading, learning, remembering, and concentration all tend to suffer after a blow to the head. Neuropsychologists are best positioned to evaluate the impact of a concussion on a victim's cognitive function.
3. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
Whenever a client complains about a physical blow to the head (whether it be from striking a window, the steering wheel, or the deployment of an airbag), we also ask about any corresponding complications with their jaw joints. Head injuries and TMJ dysfunction can go hand in hand, but their symptoms can also overlap, leading victims to believe they have suffered one injury, when in fact, they have actually suffered something different entirely.
4. Depression and Anxiety
The reactions of friends, family and colleagues to objectively identifiable injuries (like broken bones) tend to generally be sympathetic. Concussions, on the other hand, are less concrete, and can be very frustrating for victims to live through. Depression and anxiety are common side-effects of a traumatic brain injury, and sometimes require medications and/or psychotherapy to overcome.
5. Feeling Alone
Traumatic brain injuries often leave victims feeling alone, vulnerable, and powerless. Without objective findings of an organic pathology on an MRI or CT scan, it can be difficult for self-represented litigants to convince an insurance company that such an injury is more than "minor."
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
