Mild Brain Injuries
A person with a mild traumatic brain injury or MTBI is a person who suffers from a disruption of normal brain function because of an injury or trauma of some sort. Any brain injury, no matter how mild, should be examined and treated by a medical professional. The symptoms of an MTBI are varied and occur at different times, and proper rehabilitation is often necessary.
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What Causes Mild Brain Injuries?
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The causes of mild brain injuries are diverse. Some injuries can be the result of active lifestyles whereas others can be the result of an accident of some sort. Accidents that occur during sporting activities, car accidents, beatings or any sudden and violent blow to the head can cause a mild brain injury. Often, emergency room visits may result in a lack of diagnosis of the brain injury. The symptoms may arise well after the initial injury happened.
Concussions are Mild Brain Injuries
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One of the most common mild brain injuries is the concussion. In "The Road to Rehabilitation," the authors discuss the effects of concussions and their impact on those who are afflicted. They state that each year more than a million people get concussions (Frey and Savage). According to this report, the more activities a person engages in and the more active their lifestyle is, the greater the risk for a mild brain injury.
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Symptoms of Mild Brain Injuries
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The symptoms of mild brain injuries are not difficult to notice. They may manifest in a number of ways, including dizziness, fainting, unconsciousness, poor balance, headaches, amnesia, blurry vision, ringing of the ears, metallic taste in the mouth, mood swings and trouble concentrating.
Scanning for Mild Brain Injuries
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There are several different methods that are used in diagnosing a mild brain injury. MRI, X-Rays and CT scans are all able to help diagnose injuries by detecting fracture, bleeding and other visible trauma to the skull or brain. When any trauma occurs to the head, these tests are usually run. It is possible for them not to detect brain trauma when a mild brain injury has in fact occurred.
Diagnosing Brain Injuries Through Functional Behavior Changes
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It is important to realize that injuries to the brain can be diagnosed in other ways as well. They affect the way that people function. Functional changes can also be used to assess the extent of trauma to the brain. Any combination of personality tests, interviews and physical observation may be used in addition to the scans mentioned above when it comes to diagnosing injuries to the brain.
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