Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a serious public health issue in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that millions of Americans sustain TBIs each year. While severe TBIs often result in obvious disabilities, mild TBIs frequently go undetected. However, even mild TBIs can have serious and lasting consequences. This article will examine some of the hidden challenges of mild TBIs in Florida.
Defining Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBIs are typically classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptoms and imaging findings. Mild TBIs, also known as concussions, are caused by a blow to the head that affects normal brain functioning. The key characteristics of a mild TBI include:
- Brief change in mental status, such as confusion or disorientation
- Loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes
- Post-traumatic amnesia for less than 24 hours
- No abnormalities detected on standard imaging tests like CT or MRI
While the acute symptoms of a mild TBI resolve relatively quickly, there can be lingering effects that greatly impact one’s quality of life. Unfortunately, these long-term challenges often go unrecognized.
Prevalence in Florida
Florida has one of the nation’s highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. Factors contributing to this include:
- Large elderly population susceptible to falls
- High number of motor vehicle accidents
- Sports-related concussions in student athletes
- Military personnel based in Florida suffering blast-related TBIs
Experts estimate up to 75% of TBIs treated in Florida emergency rooms are mild. However, this is likely an underestimate, as many mild TBIs go untreated. Increased awareness and identification of mild TBIs is critical in Florida.
Hidden Cognitive Difficulties
Cognitive problems are a common residual effect of mild TBIs. These include difficulties with:
- Attention and concentration
- Processing speed
- Memory
- Executive functions like planning and organization
These cognitive deficits may not be readily apparent after a mild TBI. Someone may look fine on the outside while struggling significantly on the inside. Routine daily tasks requiring attention, multi-step planning, and memory can suddenly become challenging. This “invisible disability” can greatly affect one’s ability to function at work, school, or home.
Emotional Changes
Mood disorders like depression, anxiety, irritability, and emotional lability frequently occur after mild TBIs. Injured brain cells and disrupted connections between brain regions involved in emotional processing contribute to these issues. Additionally, the frustration of having to deal with cognitive impairments can precipitate emotional problems. These mood issues amplify the functional impact of a mild TBI.
Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disorders like insomnia, hypersomnia, and sleep apnea often arise after mild TBIs. This may relate to direct damage to brain regions that regulate sleep. Sleep disorders can also develop secondary to other post-TBI issues like depression, anxiety, and pain. Lack of restorative sleep exacerbates other difficulties with cognition, mood, pain, and overall recovery.
Persistent Headaches
Headaches are the most common somatic complaint after mild TBIs. Post-traumatic headaches may be due to trauma to the head and neck, or damage to pain-processing pathways in the brain. Migraine headaches triggered by mild TBIs can be especially debilitating. Headaches may worsen with cognitive activities and compound other TBI-related problems.
Slowed Processing Speed
Even when cognitive skills measured individually appear intact, processing speed is often impaired after a mild TBI. Mental operations take longer even if accuracy is unchanged. This slowed processing speed leads to increased errors and difficulties in accomplishing tasks under time constraints. Impaired processing speed underlies many functional problems and is a major hidden challenge.
Difficulty Resuming Normal Activities
After the acute symptoms of a mild TBI subside, patients frequently try to jump back into their usual routines. Going back to work, school, sports, and other demanding activities before the brain has fully healed often exacerbates post-concussive difficulties. Pushing through cognitive fatigue and overstimulation can result in setbacks. Returning to normal activities requires a gradual ramp up in stimulation and effort.
Social and Family Issues
Mild TBIs often negatively impact familial relationships, work dynamics, and social functioning. Personality and behavior changes may be misunderstood by loved ones. Difficulties with memory, planning, initiative, and emotional regulation can strain relationships. Social withdrawal frequently occurs and carrying out normal social roles becomes challenging. Support and education for family is essential.
Financial and Legal Problems
The cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments caused by mild TBIs often jeopardize work performance. This frequently results in loss of employment with consequent financial stressors. Legal issues also commonly arise in the aftermath of mild TBIs, especially if disabled from work. In Florida, filing a personal injury claim is advisable to recover damages, replace lost income, and fund treatment.
Long-Term Complications
While mild TBIs resolve completely for many patients within weeks to months, a subset will experience persistent symptoms and lifelong disabilities. The risk of developing progressive neurodegenerative disorders like chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson’s disease increases after repeated mild TBIs. Even a single mild TBI can result in cumulative neurological deterioration decades later. Mild TBIs should never be brushed off as “just a concussion.”
Take-Home Points
Mild TBIs are a hidden public health crisis in Florida leading to significant long-term disability for many. Increased awareness and identification of these “silent” post-concussive issues is critical for improving outcomes. If you or someone close to you sustains even a mild TBI, be sure to seek comprehensive evaluation and treatment to aid recovery and prevent lasting impairment. With proper management, most will recover fully, but the road to resolution requires patience and a diligent rehabilitation approach. It’s not something that should be rushed.
If you’ve received a traumatic brain injury that was caused by a third party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of income, therapy costs, and more. At Monge & Associates, we have 32 offices in 19 states, including Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia, and our attorneys are well-practiced in this area of the law. We know what to do to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call now for a free consultation on (888) 477-0597 to discuss your case.