Very often people are not sure what a “mild” brain injury is. The word “mild” refers to how severe the physical trauma was that precipitated the injury. By no means does it signify the severity of brain damage that resulted from the injury.
The CDC defined exactly what constitutes a mild brain injury in a written report submitted to the U.S. Congress on the topic of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in the United States, as follows:
A mild traumatic brain injury is when the head injury results from a blunt trauma, the acceleration, or deceleration forces and when at least one or more of the following conditions occurred during the period of observation due to the head injury:
- Any periods of momentary disorientation, confusion or diminished consciousness that is self-reported or observed;
- Any periods of memory dysfunction (amnesia) that occurred near the time of the injury, either self-reported or observed;
- Symptoms or signs observed of other types of neuropsychological or dysfunction, like:
- Seizures immediately following the head injury;
- In infants and among very young children: lethargy, irritability, and/or vomiting following the head injury;
- Symptoms and signs in older children and adults: dizziness, headaches, fatigue irritability, and poor concentration or focus, when recognized soon after the injury, can be used to countenance a mild TBI diagnosis, but can’t be used to form the diagnosis if there is no loss of or changes in consciousness. Further research may be able to provide more guidance in this area.
- A period of self-reported or observed loss of consciousness that lasted 30 minutes or less.
This definition places the focus on the actual head injury and/or symptoms, not any possible results or consequences. For many patients, it is an uphill battle getting diagnosed accurately and then getting the proper treatment, especially when no one has observed any loss of consciousness and there isn’t any documented proof that this actually happened.
If you or someone you love has had a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence do not hesitate to call or contact O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley. We will schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys whose expertise is in head and traumatic brain injuries. We at O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley will provide you with the resources you need to evaluate and properly diagnose your head injury, or that of your loved one. We can also ensure that you get the kind of treatment you need to recover from your injuries as well as the financial compensation you need and deserve.
(Source: Brain Injury Association of America)
Published on behalf of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley LLP
