Answers to questions regarding traumatic brain injuries and the law, from John Hochfelder, a New York lawyer who specializes in injury cases.
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
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