What are the symptoms of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

The impact of a moderate to severe brain injury can include:

Cognitive deficits including difficulties with:

• attention
• concentration
• distractability
• memory
• speed of processing
• confusion
• perseveration
• impulsiveness
• language processing
• “executive functions”

Speech and Language

• not understanding the spoken word (receptive aphasia)
• difficulty speaking and being understood (expressive aphasia)
• slurred speech
• speaking very fast or very slow
• problems reading
• problems writing

Sensory

• difficulties with interpretation of touch, temperature, movement, limb position and fine discrimination

Perceptual

• the integration or patterning of sensory impressions into psychologically meaningful data

Vision

• partial or total loss of vision
• weakness of eye muscles and double vision (diplopia)
• blurred vision
• problems judging distance
• involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
• intolerance of light (photophobia)

Hearing

• decrease or loss of hearing
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• increased sensitivity to sounds

Smell

• loss or diminished sense of smell (anosmia)

Taste

• loss or diminished sense of taste

Seizures

• the convulsions associated with epilepsy that can be several types and can involve disruption in  consciousness, sensory perception, or motor movements

Physical Changes

• physical paralysis/spasticity
• chronic pain
• control of bowel and bladder
• sleep disorders
• loss of stamina
• appetite changes
• regulation of body temperature
• menstrual difficulties

Social-Emotional

• dependent behaviors
• emotional ability
• lack of motivation
• irritability
• aggression
• depression
• disinhibition
• denial/lack of awareness