THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Family members may hope that their loved one will make a full recovery from a brain injury with time and the right treatment. However, even a moderate traumatic brain injury can have a long-term impact on someone’s health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person’s life expectancy can decrease by nine years after a traumatic brain injury. Within 5 years of the incident, 30% of people recorded in a national database experienced worse health. Additionally, about 55% of people were out of work because of their injury and 33% relied on their family for daily care.

Physical impact

People may experience several long-term symptoms after a brain injury. According to Brainline.org, a brain injury can cause people to lose their fine motor skills over time. They may also have difficulty walking and their movements may become uncontrolled. People may also be unable to get and keep a job because they do not have the necessary coordination. In some situations, people may develop sleep disorders because of their injury or experience chronic pain.

Visual impact

People may experience problems with their vision in the years after a brain injury. It may be more difficult for them to judge distance. They may also experience blurred vision or vision loss. In some situations, people may become intolerant of light.

Cognitive impact

A brain impact can also have long-term consequences for a person’s cognitive ability. People may have more trouble expressing themselves verbally and understanding what other people say. Additionally, people may lose their abilities to focus and memorize new information.

Because of these long-term symptoms, people may require more care in the years after their injury.