An estimated Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and one in 60 people in the United States lives with a TBI-related disability. Dealing with the long-term effects of brain injury can be overwhelming and hard to understand. For TBI survivors, it may impact their ability to move, work, complete daily activities, and maintain or form new relationships. TBI can also change how someone thinks, acts, feels or learns.
鈥淪ometimes it can be a very difficult conversation with a new patient,鈥 says鈥Kelsi Schiltz, DPT, who specializes in care for people with neurologic conditions at 香蕉视频 of Utah Health. 鈥淲e remain positive, though, to get patients up, moving, and participating as much as we can to get them back to what they enjoy.鈥
Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital鈥 sees a wide variety of鈥痶raumatic brain injury patients, with nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations caused by falls. Many other TBI injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents, assaults, firearm-related suicide attempts, or sports injuries.
According to Schiltz, some groups are at increased risk of having long-term health problems, or higher mortality rates from a TBI, including:
- Males (who are two times more likely to be hospitalized and three times more likely to die from a TBI than females)
- Older adults (particularly those 75 years and older)
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- Service members and veterans
- People experiencing homelessness
- People in a correctional or detention facility
- Survivors of intimate partner violence
- People living in rural areas
Long-Term Side Effects of TBI
罢丑别鈥long-term effects of TBI鈥痙epend on the degree of impact, duration of loss of consciousness, and where in the brain the trauma took place.
- Frontal lobe: Damage here can lead to engaging in risky or inappropriate behaviors.
- Left side of brain: Trauma here can cause problems with logic, speech difficulties, and trouble understanding others.
- Ride side of brain: Trauma here can cause problems processing visual information, neglect, or the ability to perform regular or familiar tasks (apraxia).
鈥淚f you give someone a comb, they can tell you it鈥檚 a comb, but they don't know how to use it,鈥 Shiltz explains. 鈥淭rauma to the motor or sensory areas of the brain can impact an individual鈥檚 ability to walk, stand, or move.鈥
Long-term effects of head trauma also depend on trauma severity. Moderate to severe side effects may include:
- Memory loss
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Visual changes/loss
- Fatigue
- Paralysis
- Weakness
- Sensory problems (touch and feel)
- Balance problems
- Reduced language (speaking and understanding) or problem-solving skills
- Mood swings
- Depression or mental health behaviors
鈥淲ith increased severity, we see a lot of physical impairments,鈥 Schiltz explains, 鈥渂ut also cognitive impairments, problem-solving challenges, sleep disturbances, and depression.鈥
Short-Term Side Effects of Concussions聽
For milder traumatic brain injuries like鈥concussions, Schiltz says some may experience migraines, vision changes, dizziness, balance disturbances, fatigue, and concentration difficulties.
鈥淩ecovery is usually within a 30- to 90-day window, with most people recovering from a concussion within days to weeks,鈥 she explains.
Possible short-term effects include:
- Headache
- Light sensitivity
- Noise sensitivity
- Balance disruption
- Vertigo
- Mental fatigue or difficulty concentrating
- Confusion
鈥淎fter a concussion, you might be in a conversation with someone and lose your train of thought or not be able to follow a conversation,鈥 Schiltz says. 鈥淥r you might get a worsening headache or fatigue from physical exertion or work.鈥
TBI Treatment: Exercise and Holistic Care聽
If you experience head trauma and notice any of the above symptoms, don鈥檛 wait to seek care.
鈥淭he biggest thing we want is for people to鈥痗ome in and get the proper care and education鈥攄on鈥檛 wait,鈥 Schiltz advises. 鈥淩esearch shows that exercise, participating in regular activities, and getting into a routine can help blood flow to the brain and drive neural recovery.鈥
Treatment for TBI鈥痠苍肠濒耻诲别蝉:&苍产蝉辫;
- Physical therapy
- Rehab psychology
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Social work
The more work you can put in, the鈥痓etter the outcome.
鈥淲e had someone come to us in a wheelchair after being told they may never walk again,鈥 Schiltz says. 鈥淭his individual was in care for two years, pretty intensively, and now they鈥檙e back to driving, walking, and living by themself. In their new normal, they have difficulty speaking, but they鈥檝e come so far.鈥
Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital
Our hospital was built for patients鈥攐f all capabilities鈥攖o interact with their surroundings in real-time. Our smart technology enables patients greater control of the space around them and their recovery. Come experience it for yourself.
Can You Experience Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms Years Later?
You suffered a brain injury from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head earlier in your life. Years later, you experience one or many symptoms like foggy thinking or memory loss? Derrick Allred, MD, discusses if a concussion could be the cause.
