Mild, Moderate and Severe Brain Injury

Mild TBI

Mild traumatic brain injuries, also referred to as MTBI, are often difficult to distinguish because it is common for the individual to not even realize they've injured the brain. There are probably far more mild TBI cases that go undiagnosed than any other level of TBI. Concussions fall into this category.

It is not always clear to detect a TBI in the case of a mild head injury, and those who suffer minor blows to the head may not even seek treatment, which is why there is really not a full statistic on TBI because the fact is many people do not consult with a doctor after suffering a small blow to the head. There are some signs that are characteristic of a mild TBI, and these are brief unconsciousness, headaches, persistent fatigue, irritability, a level of memory loss and confused feelings. Not all of these characteristics may be present, or it can be a combination of any or all of these symptoms. In addition, the individual may experience signs of depression, loss of balance and sensitivity to light or noise.

Moderate TBI

When an individual suffers a moderate TBI the symptoms may include the same kinds of experiences that could occur with a mild TBI, however, may also include a loss of consciousness that can last several minutes or even longer. A person who sustains a moderate TBI may also experience prolonged confusion and exhibit cognitive, physical or behavioral differences than they had pre-injury.

Severe TBI

According to traumaticbraininjury.com a severe TBI is "defined as a brain injury resulting in a loss of consciousness of greater than 6 hours and a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 to 8" . Signs a severe TBI is present include coma, persistent vegetative state or minimal response after the injury has occurred.

Many individuals experiencing a severe TBI often find they have extended or permanent problems with bodily functions such as vision, body temperature, auditory and physical movements. While all levels of TBI may find permanent injury in this area, those with severe TBI may also find long-term suffering of cognitive, behavioral, emotional and sensory problems. A person who sustains a severe TBI has more obvious symptoms than a mild or moderate head injury, and often has an extended period of hospitalization post-injury which may include in-patient rehabilitation.

http://www.livinghealthy360.com/index.php/an-overview-of-the-three-levels-of-traumatic-brain-injury-tbi-60321/