Long Term Effects of Concussions: What You Should Know
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on May 12, 2022
If you suffered a blow, fall, car accident, or some other type of injury to your head, it is possible that you may experience a concussion. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), upwards of three million people in the U.S., including children and adults, suffer from concussions every year. While some concussions can be very mild, many are very serious. In fact, there were more than 64,000 deaths related to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in 2020, which averages to approximately 176 per day.
When it comes to concussions, people experience a wide range of symptoms. Much of the focus is on the more immediate symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. While these symptoms can be a very serious concern, it is also important to be aware of the longer-term effects. Follow along for an overview of some of the longer-term effects caused by concussions.
7 Longer Term Effects of Concussions You Should Know
- Loss of memory or amnesia – After a concussion, many people experience short and longer-term memory problems. This can include difficulty remembering to keep appointments and do basic tasks, as well as forgetting certain details while in a conversation.
- Changes in personality – While personality changes are fairly common following a severe concussion, the specifics of the changes vary person to person. Some people experience sadness or depression, while others may feel angry or less patient or more anxious. The personality changes can be difficult for the individual suffering from the concussion, and also hard on close loved ones who may not expect these types of changes.
- Difficulty with scheduling and staying focused– Following a concussion, many people experience greater difficulty staying focused and doing more than one thing at one time. This can create frustration, especially for people who are accustomed to being able to maintain very busy schedules and to multi-task with ease.
- Sleep problems – Even though sleep is one of the best sources of healing from a concussion, many people experience sleep disturbances. These may include difficult sleeping (insomnia), sleeping for very extended periods of time (hypersomnia), and sleeping very suddenly in the middle of the day (narcolepsy).
- Changes in your ability to smell and/or taste – Estimates suggest that upwards of one out of every 4 people with a traumatic brain injury experience loss of taste and or smell. This may be related in part due to some kind of damage to a person’s sinuses, olfactory system and/or brain. Some medicines which may be prescribed to someone following a concussion may also hinder a person’s ability to smell or taste.
- Difficulty controlling impulses – After a severe concussion some people find that they become more impulsive and less inhibited. This means that they may say or do certain things that they would never have said or done int eh past. Sometimes these things can be socially inappropriate or hurtful. This can bring embarrassment, frustration, humiliation and many other emotions to the injured individual and to their loved ones and associates who are not accustomed to this type of behavior.
- A harder time managing anger – While everyone feels angry from time to time, often after a serious concussion, people report having a harder time managing their anger. This can be a scary thing for both the individual suffering from the concussion, and their loved ones w-ho may be a target of some of the aggression.
While cuts, bruises and broken bones are visible signs of an injury or accident, many of the symptoms experienced by those with serious concussions can be more subtle but every bit as challenging. If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an accident, make sure to get the best legal help you can. The experienced attorneys at Cooper & Friedman PLLC have worked for decades to fight for the rights of injury victims across the State of Kentucky. For more information, or to get a free case consultation with an attorney, contact Cooper & Friedman PLLC today by calling 502-459-7555 or filling out a contact form online.