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6 Symptoms to Look for When Self-Diagnosing a Traumatic Brain Injury

DMD Admin • May 24, 2021

6 Symptoms to Look for When Self-Diagnosing a Traumatic Brain Injury

You might think a brain injury would be apparent right away, but that is not always the case. There are many situations where individuals might go weeks or months without the proper care they need simply because the signs of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are ignored. If you or a loved one suspect that a TBI has occurred, it is crucial to seek professional medical help right away. Here are six signs to be on the lookout that might indicate such assistance should be sought out sooner rather than later. 

Discovering You Have Lost Consciousness

Falling asleep reading a book is one thing, but if you find yourself losing complete consciousness for minutes at a time, this is an indication that you have a traumatic brain injury. The brain is designed to control your consciousness. When damaged, it loses this ability and can result in potentially harmful side effects. It is vital to get this diagnosed because you do not want to be driving a car, for example, when you suddenly lose consciousness. 

Having Frequent Feelings of Confusion or Lethargy

You know yourself better than anyone else. If you suddenly find that you are confused or more lethargic than usual, then this is something that you will want to have checked out. This is particularly troublesome if the feelings persist and become a regular occurrence. While there are other potential causes of confusion, a traumatic brain injury is one of the more likely. 

Headaches or Bouts of Dizziness Are a Regular Occurrence

When your brain is traumatized, you will have bouts of headaches that come on suddenly and with increased intensity. Again, if you have not noticed yourself developing headaches in the past, then this is something you will want to have diagnosed. If you have done nothing to bring on a headache, then an injury might be the cause. Something else to look for in this regard is bouts of dizziness. This can lead to further injury, so it is important to have a TBI diagnosed so that the rehabilitation process can begin. 

Blurry Vision and Tired Eyes

Another symptom of traumatic brain injury to look out for is blurry vision and tired eyes. These are symptoms that will not go away. They can be persistent or come on without warning. Either way, this is a troubling indicator that your brain has been injured. Without proper care, this will continue to be an issue and impact many of your daily routines. Driving and operating any type of machinery become problematic when you have blurry vision and tired eyes. 

A Persistent Ringing Sound in the Ears

Not only can this be annoying, but it can also be an indicator of a traumatic brain injury. The ringing that we are talking about here is a false sound. There is no cause for the noise you are hearing, yet it is there, and it is persistent. It will frequently come on without warning, and there is little that you can do to get rid of it outside of seeking treatment for a TBI. 

Sleep and Behavioral Patterns Are in a Constant State of Flux

Again, this is something that only you or a close partner might become aware of. If you suddenly find that your sleeping patterns have changed and you do not understand why then you might want to consider traumatic brain injury as the cause. You might also discover that your behavioral patterns have changed. You might become irritable at things that did not bother you before, or you may become quiet and withdrawn when you used to be active and outgoing. 

Summary

If you experience any of these symptoms, that does not necessarily mean that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury. However, they are worrying signs that should have checked out right away. At the very least, they are indicators that something has happened to your brain. Left undiagnosed, there could be severe physical and emotional repercussions down the road.

 

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