The symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury can be divided into three areas:           

• Physical symptoms;
• Cognitive deficits (effects on brain function); and
• Behavioural changes.
  

Physical Symptoms:

The physical symptoms of brain injury can last for hours, days, weeks or months after the initial physical trauma. In some cases, the symptoms may be permanent.

The physical symptoms of brain injury can include:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Dizziness;
• Headaches;
• Blurred vision; and
• Fatigue.
  

Cognitive Deficits:

Mild traumatic brain injury can have significant effects on the normal cognitive functions of the brain. In other words, a mild traumatic brain injury can affect the brain’s ability to perform its normal role as the command center of the body.

Typical cognitive symptoms of brain injury can include:

• Having difficulty paying attention;
• Problems with concentration;
• Perception problems;
• Difficulty with short term memory;
• Speech or language deficits ( for example searching for words); and
• Problems with executive functions (in other words, organization skills).
  

Behavioural changes:

The symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury can also cause changes in behaviour. However, the changes may be so subtle that the brain injured victim isn’t aware of the changes (or refuses to admit the extent of their symptoms).

Typical behavioural changes seen in victims with mild traumatic brain injury can include:

• Irritability;
• Quickness to anger;
• Emotional lability; and
•  Disinhibition

Halifax Brain Injury lawyer John McKiggan Q.C. has served on the board of the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (Halifax Chapter) and is the author of Brain Matter: The Survivor's Guide to Brain Injury Claims an educational resource for brain injury survivors and their families.

If you or someone in your family has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you can call brain injury lawyer John McKiggan Q.C. toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or contact us online for a free consultation.