Major Signs Of A Traumatic Brain Injury

Bad Taste In The Mouth

Some individuals with a traumatic brain injury have a diminished sense of taste, or they lose their ability to taste food altogether. All of these sensory-related symptoms might occur in conjunction with each other as well. Patients might lose their hearing and taste, or their sight and hearing. If an individual experiencing problems with multiple base senses at one time, this is a sign they have suffered a particularly severe traumatic brain injury and need medical intervention as soon as possible. Another potential symptom is a bad taste in the mouth. In particular, if foods are not tasting the way they usually do, or if an individual feels their sense of taste is 'off,' it is important to consult a medical professional.

Continue reading to learn about the next symptom of a traumatic brain injury now.

Loss Of Consciousness

If an individual loses consciousness, this is a sign they have suffered a major TBI. Traumatic brain injuries have a range, from mild trauma to severe injuries. If an individual loses consciousness for between twenty minutes and six hours, their traumatic brain injury will be classified as a moderate brain injury. If an individual loses consciousness for longer than six hours and has a score on the Glasgow Coma Scale between three and eight, they have suffered a severe brain injury. If they lose consciousness for less than twenty minutes, they may have suffered a mild injury. It's important to note, however, any loss of consciousness following head trauma is a sign medical intervention must be performed immediately. If an individual doesn't regain consciousness within a few seconds, their life could be in danger.

Continue reading to learn about the sign of a traumatic brain injury related to speech.

Speech Problems

Traumatic brain injuries often cause speech problems. Individuals might have difficulty understanding the words being spoken to them, a condition called receptive aphasia. Patients might also have difficulty expressing themselves and being understood by others, called expressive aphasia. They might experience slurred speech. It's also possible they will speak very slowly, with long pauses between words. Alternatively, they might speak much more quickly than they usually do. Any of these symptoms is a sign an individual has suffered a cognitive impairment following a head injury. In the recovery process after a traumatic brain injury, individuals may continue to have trouble with speech, along with reading and writing, as these are controlled by the same language center in the brain.

Continue reading to learn how nausea or vomiting can indicate a traumatic brain injury has occurred.