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Concussion Overview
Concussion symptoms vary depending upon the severity of the traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can occur during a car accident.
Any hit, bump or jolt to the head that causes an interference with normal brain function can result in a concussion. Sometimes, such a TBI can cause impaired thinking, memory loss, movement irregularities, vision or hearing impairment, or personality changes, such as depression or other emotional issues.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most TBIs fall in the “mild” category. A mild concussion is considered a grade 1 head injury that may result in a change in mental status that lasts less than 15 minutes with no loss of consciousness.
A moderate concussion is called a grade 2, during which the person will not lose consciousness, but will have mental acuity problems that last longer than 15 minutes. A severe concussion known as a grade 3 is marked by a loss of consciousness, even if only for a few seconds.
The CDC offers statistics from the year 2013. Car accidents were the third leading cause of TBI-related emergency visits, hospitalizations and deaths among people in all age categories in 2013. Among deaths attributed to TBIs that year, car accidents came in third.
Among deaths attributed to TBIs in 2013, car accidents were the leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 24 years, and TBIs were related to the deaths of nearly 50,000 people.
What are Concussion Symptoms?
According to WebMD, any of the following could qualify as concussion symptoms:
- A dazed feeling, confusion
- Clumsiness
- Slurred speech
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Problems with balance
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Noise sensitivity
- Fatigue
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in behavior or personality
- Loss of memory
A grade 1 concussion may resolve itself in minutes, hours, days or a week. But even a grade 1 concussion should be taken seriously, because further trauma to the brain can result in a more severe concussion or even death.
A doctor can ask a series of questions that will help determine the level of the concussion. Most concussions are treated by allowing the patient to get plenty of rest with no lights, no computers, no televisions, no cell phones and no music. The reduction of sensory input helps the brain heal.
Repeat concussions are known to inflict cumulative damage to the brain. Receiving multiple concussions may result in brain swelling and permanent brain damage. As a result, patients may suffer long-term disabilities and long-term personality changes.
In some cases, patients develop post-concussion syndrome, which is a medical issue that lasts for weeks to months after the head incurred an injury. People who have had previous TBIs and those who experience early signs of a headache, amnesia, brain fog or fatigue are more apt to suffer from post-concussion syndrome. The condition also is more often seen in women and the elderly.
