A growing number of individuals who have suffered a serious brain injury are missing out on appropriate care due to a delayed reaction in head trauma symptoms.
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One of the difficulties in treating a brain injury is that the effects are not always apparent, and may take weeks or even months to establish themselves. A large number of head injury symptoms mirror those experienced in daily life due to regular stress or fatigue, but may actually be attributable to a brain injury and have a significant impact on an individual’s life, work, and relationships.
Symptoms of a head injury
After initial treatment following a head injury, symptoms that suggest more serious damage than may have first been apparent may manifest themselves over a period of time. These may include prolonged low spells of mood; obsessing about a particular viewpoint and being unable to take other opinions on board; unexpected bursts of anger; a shift in sexual drive, and lack of motivation.
Physical signs can include blurred vision; persistent chronic headaches; tiredness; agitation; dizziness, and an inability to concentrate.
It is rare that any two brain injuries are the same, and given the often-delayed reaction, signs of a head injury need to be treated accordingly. Prompt diagnosis and head injury treatment is particularly essential in order to minimise long-term complications.
Newcastle University Study
A study in 2014 by a team of scientists based in the North-East looked at 53 people who have experienced either a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury, within a fortnight of their injury.
Findings were compared with 33 people who had no brain injury. In cognitive tests relating to thinking and memory, those with a brain injury scored significantly lower than those without one. This was in spite of the individuals having received prompt medical attention at the time of their injury and being discharged soon after, often showing no symptoms of a head injury.
Interestingly, 90% of all brain injuries are classified as mild to moderate, yet the majority of research still concerns severe and chronic traumatic injury. Given the findings, there is evidently a huge amount to be learned about such injuries, with many having experienced a mild or moderate injury unaware that their lives have been significantly affected.
Expert View
“The rehabilitation pathways for catastrophic injuries are pretty well-established now. The pathway for those with mild to moderate injuries are not as clear, as result people often miss out on the correct sort of treatment. People are also unaware that they could seek compensation for their brain injury. TLW specialise in assisting clients with mild to moderate brain injuries and can assist people to access the right sort of care and rehabilitation services.”
Peter McKenna, Partner at TLW
Serious Injury in the North-East
TLW have a local heritage, providing specialist legal services to people for over 15 years in the region. With extensive specialist training, we work alongside experienced care and rehabilitation professionals to ensure our personal injury clients receive the very best professional advice and are able to access the support they require.
TLW Solicitors are here to help. Fill in our enquiry form, email us at info@tlwsolicitors.co.uk or call us today.
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