Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a medical condition that can affect one’s physical, neurological, and/ or emotional functioning and occurs because of experiencing a jolt or blow to one’s head. A concussion is often referred to by medical professionals as a mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI). A specialized committee that falls under the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) developed the following definition: a patient with mild traumatic brain injury is a person who has had a traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function, as manifested by at least one of the following:
- Any period of loss of consciousness;
- Any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the accident;
- Any alteration in mental state at the time of the accident (e.g., feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused); and
- Focal neurological deficit(s) that may or may not be transient; but that the severity of the injury does not exceed the following:
- Loss of consciousness of approximately 30 minutes or less;
- After 30 minutes, an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCD) of 12-15;
- Posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) not greater than 24 hours.
It is important to note that not all hits to the head inevitably result in a severe TBI. The terms mild TBI and concussion are synonymous and can be used interchangeably.
Symptoms of a Concussion
The symptoms that present will directly correlate to the severity of one’s traumatic brain injury. The severity of a TBI is dependent upon several factors (e.g., force of the impact, nature of the injury, etc.). There are various common events that could cause a mild TBI, such as sports injuries, violence, falls, explosive blasts, vehicle-related collisions, and other combat injuries. Symptoms that could present with a concussion may include, but are not limited to any combination of the following examples, provided by the Mayfield Brain & Spine Clinic:
- Headache
- Feelings of fatigue and/ or exhaustion
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Memory impairment (e.g., trouble remembering new information)
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Trouble with concentration, thinking and/ or attention
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and/ or sounds
- Blurred vision
- Anxiety
- Behavior and/ or mood changes
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), about seventy-five percent of TBIs that occur each year are classified as mild TBIs.
For Information and Support
If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one regarding substance abuse and/ or addiction, we recommend reaching out for help as soon as possible. If left untreated, substance abuse can result in long lasting and potentially life-threatening consequences. Keep in mind: you are not alone! There is an entire network of professionals that are available to help and support you and your loved one throughout the recovery process. The earlier you seek support, the sooner your loved one can return to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding our specific program at Haven House Addiction Treatment and/ or general substance abuse and/ or addiction treatment related information. Our highly trained staff is readily available to discuss how we might best be able to help you and your loved one. We can be reached by phone at 424-258-6792. You are also welcomed to contact anytime us via email at admissions@hhtxc.com.
