10 Important Signs That Someone May Have a Concussion

Don’t let anyone call your concussion a “mild injury.” That degrades the pain you’re feeling and the impairments you’re suffering: your headaches, your concentration problems, your loss of memory, and your impaired judgment and balance.

Let’s call your concussion what it really is: a traumatic brain injury.

“Traumatic brain injury” is a better description. It better illustrates the potential and long-term dangers and damages of your concussion. If anyone calls your concussion a “mild injury,” they’re downplaying your physical and mental suffering. Your concussion is a traumatic brain injury, and even a mild one can have devastating effects.

What Is A Concussion?

 The Pennsylvania Department of Health defines a concussion as a type of traumatic brain injury that follows:

• A hit to or jarring of the head
• A hit to the body that quickly shifts the head and brain forward and back.

Concussions can be caused by a number of activities or accidents, including sports, car accidents, falls and assaults.

The Severity of a Mild Concussion

If your concussion has been called “mild,” don’t let this mislead you. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, the term “mild” refers to the intensity of the preliminary trauma and has no relation to the brain injury’s severity or effects.

If you’ve suffered a concussion, the effects can be severe. Concussion injuries often manifest as impairments to your:

• Thinking
• Sensations
• Language use
• Emotions

Concussion victims also suffer an increased risk for brain disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

10 Important Signs That You May Have a Concussion

Because a concussion’s signs and symptoms may not appear until hours or days after an injury, it’s critical that anyone who experiences a brain injury be continuously monitored for symptoms. The University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine lists these 10 symptoms to watch for:

• Headache
• Haziness
• A feeling of slowness
• Blurred or double vision
• Concentration problems
• Light or sound sensitivity
• Dizziness
• Memory problems
• Tiredness
• Lack of balance

If you’ve been in an accident and suffered a concussion, you’re dealing with a serious injury. A concussion can weaken you brain function and interfere with your ability work. If you’ve suffered an accident-related concussion, contact the lawyers at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC immediately for a free consultation. You can call us at 412-471-4300, or email us. We represent residents in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and may be able to help you.