Can you have brain damage without knowing?

Yes. Many people who have problems such as poor memory, difficulties in learning and behavioral issues are unaware they are experiencing symptoms resulting from an “unidentified” traumatic brain injury.


Can brain damage go undetected?

A 'subtle' traumatic brain and head injury results from an injury to the head, many of which go undetected, undiagnosed and unseen and can have devastating and life changing consequences for those affected.

How do I know if I have brain damage?

People with brain damage may have balance issues and sensitivity to pain and light. They may have difficulty with communication, including listening and expressing verbally. Brain damage patients may have frequent headaches and extreme mental and physical fatigue.


How long can a brain injury go unnoticed?

While some signs are immediate and noticeable, symptoms regarding behavior, sleep, memory, and thought processing might not become obvious for days or weeks following the incident.

How long does it take for brain damage symptoms to show?

Signs and symptoms may appear at once, within 24 hours, or they may emerge days or weeks after the injury. Sometimes the symptoms are subtle. A person may notice a problem but not relate it to the injury. Some people will appear to have no symptoms after a TBI, but their condition worsens later.


Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms



How does brain damage feel like?

Every individual's experience with traumatic brain injury is unique, but there are many common symptoms and emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, and anxiety may be accompanied by difficulties with memory, pain, and the challenges of maintaining relationships.

What happens if brain damage is left untreated?

Even if your injury does not seem severe, a lack of treatment could mean that future head injuries do more significant damage and take longer to heal. Even repeated mild brain injuries can lead to long-term challenges including memory and concentration issues, loss of balance, headaches and other symptoms.

Can you have a delayed brain injury?

However, there are often cases where initial signs of TBI may not manifest until days, weeks, or even months after the injury. Other times, certain symptoms may be more mild or subtle and go undetected until they become more pronounced. This is why brain injuries are known as an “invisible” epidemic.


What are 3 symptoms of a brain injury?

Moderate to severe head injury (requires immediate medical attention)--symptoms may include any of the above plus:
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Severe headache that does not go away.
  • Repeated nausea and vomiting.


Can you see brain damage on an MRI?

Newer, specialized MRIs can measure brain function for detecting changes in brain function and structure because of TBI or evaluate the structure of the brain at an even finer level. MRI might show brain atrophy long after the injury, which results when injured or dead brain tissue is reabsorbed after TBI.

What is living with brain damage like?

An individual with TBI may have difficulty focusing, paying attention, or attending to more than one thing at a time. Difficulty concentrating may lead to restlessness and being easily distracted or they may have difficulty finishing a project or working on more than one task at a time.


How do you test brain damage?

A CT scan can quickly visualize fractures and uncover evidence of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage), blood clots (hematomas), bruised brain tissue (contusions), and brain tissue swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful radio waves and magnets to create a detailed view of the brain.

What is the most common brain damage?

People most commonly get TBIs from a fall, firearm-related injury, motor vehicle crash, or an assault. Research shows that: Falls lead to nearly half of the TBI-related hospitalizations. Firearm-related suicide is the most common cause of TBI-related deaths in the United States.

What is a mild form of a brain injury?

This is a penetrating injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe. Concussions are a type of mild TBI. The effects of a concussion can sometimes be serious, but most people completely recover in time. More severe TBI can lead to serious physical and psychological symptoms, coma, and even death.


How does a person act when they have brain damage?

Individuals with a moderate-to-severe brain injury often have problems in basic cognitive (thinking) skills such as paying attention, concentrating, and remembering new information and events. They may think slowly, speak slowly and solve problems slowly.

Can you have minor brain damage?

Most TBIs that occur each year are mild TBIs or concussions. A mild TBI or concussion is caused by: A bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or. By a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.

Can a neurologist tell if you have brain damage?

A neurologist can rule out alternative causes of your symptoms. They can order imaging to see if there's evidence of any other undiagnosed problem within the brain. A CT scan could detect evidence of a previously undiagnosed skull fracture, bleeding, a brain tumor, or evidence of a stroke.


Can a blood test show brain damage?

Tests of both biomarkers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for their ability to show structural damage to the brain and are used as tools to determine if patients with mild TBI should have costly CT scans.

What is considered an acquired brain injury?

An acquired brain injury is brain damage caused by events after birth, rather than as part of a genetic or congenital disorder. These include strokes, brain illness and other brain injuries. They differ from degenerative brain conditions, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Will a CT scan show brain damage?

CT scans can show if there is swelling or bleeding in the brain or a fracture in the skull. If you have signs of a serious injury, a CT scan is usually the best first test to diagnose it. Your health care provider will look for specific signs of a more serious problem.


Can a concussion be diagnosed years later?

Post-concussion symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years after the concussive event. In general, if your symptoms have not gone away after three months, it's a good idea to explore treatment options.

Can doctors tell if you had a concussion in the past?

Evidence of a concussion may not always be visible on MRI or CT scans, so a doctor may perform neuropsychological tests to determine if you are having difficulty with cognition and memory after a concussion. These tests may also detect any emotional changes.

Can an old head injury cause problems later in life?

New research led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that a single head injury could lead to dementia later in life. This risk further increases as the number of head injuries sustained by an individual increases.


What are the symptoms of a slow brain bleed?

Confusion. Unequal pupil size. Slurred speech. Loss of movement (paralysis) on the opposite side of the body from the head injury.
...
When to see a doctor
  • Lose consciousness.
  • Have a persistent headache.
  • Experience vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, unsteadiness.


What are the symptoms of brain swelling?

Symptoms of encephalitis
  • confusion or disorientation.
  • seizures or fits.
  • changes in personality and behaviour.
  • difficulty speaking.
  • weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body.
  • loss of consciousness.