The impact of a brain Injury can be wide ranging and depend upon a number of factors including the part of the brain affected and severity of the injury. Every person’s injury is unique, so you may experience a number of symptoms which can range from mild to severe. We have listed some of the most common below.
Physical Effects
Fatigue
Excessive tiredness is common following all neurological injuries. Tasks that are normally taken for granted, such as getting dressed or walking around require much more effort. It is important to allow for rest periods at regular intervals during the day to prevent excessive fatigue, which can delay recovery.Try to avoid over-exertion and also over-stimulation. It is important to see friends and relatives, but do not under-estimate how physically draining this can be, which is often why health care professionals will advise you to place limits on such interactions.
Mobility
This can range from minor problems with balance or co-ordination to requiring help from therapists to help you sit or stand; this may need to continue once you have been discharged home from hospital. It is common to require equipment such as walking aids to ensure you move safely.
Sensory Impairment
Hearing and eyesight may be affected and this may not be correctable with hearing aids or glasses. Taste or sense of smell may be impaired or lost, either in the short or long term.
Speech Difficulties
Slow, indistinct or rapid speech is common following brain injury. It may be hard to understand what you are saying at first and you may have to repeat yourself.
Cognitive Effects
Memory problems
Memory problems, particularly short term memory, are common following brain injury. Some people may be unable to remember faces or names, or what they have read or has just been said to them. New learning may be affected, whilst previously learned skills may still be intact.
Reduced Concentration Span
This is very common and may also impact on memory problems. Completing tasks may be a problem and the task may be abandoned before reaching the end. It is common to lose interest in a task very quickly.
Reduced speed of Information Processing
People can take longer to thinks things through or work out what has been said to them. “Information overload” can be quickly reached, and can cause frustration and anger.
Lack of Insight
The person may have an unrealistic view of themselves and others, and may not appreciate they have certain problems. This may lead to unattainable goals being set, which then leads to failure and frustration.
Emotional and Behavioural Effects
The person may have a tendency to laugh or cry very easily and move from one emotional state to another. It is common to be depressed, particularly if areas of the brain controlling emotion have been injured and also can be due to the person gaining an insight into the effects of their brain injury. Things that are precious to the individual may be lost after brain injury and there may be much sadness, anger and confusion as a result.
Frustration can build up quickly, especially when things that were previously once easy are now difficult or impossible. The resulting anger may be difficult for the person to control.
Headway and the Brain and Spine Foundation provide patient cards that can list the injury you have sustained and the problems you are left with to help others to support and help you after hospital discharge. Both Headway and the Brain and Spine Foundation provide useful information on their websites into managing the common effects following brain injury.
Headway (The National Head Injuries Association) – www.headway.org.uk
Provides information, support and services to people with brain injury and their family
Provide emergency funding following admission to Intensive Care Unit with visiting costs
0115 924 0800. Help line 0808 800 2244
enquiries@headway.org.uk
Brain & Spine Foundation – www.brainandspine.org.uk
Provide information and advice following brain and spinal
0808 808 1000
helpline@brainandspine.org.uk
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