Exploring Why Traumatic Brain Injuries Go Undiagnosed
February 8, 2010 - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often referred to as the “invisible disability.” Some individuals have no outward physical signs of their brain injuries, making their disability “invisible” to strangers. Symptoms such as fatigue, forgetfulness and mood swings may be interpreted as bad personality traits and not as symptoms of a brain injury.
In some cases a lack of outward physical signs makes diagnosing a brain injury difficult. This is especially true when the symptoms of a brain injury are subtle, such as personality changes or emotional problems, which are easy for strangers to miss.
Here are possible examples of why a brain injury may initially go undiagnosed:
- Symptoms are slow to develop.
- Incomplete testing of patients with no visible head trauma.
- Symptoms may appear totally unrelated to the initial injury.
- Prescription drugs mask cognitive impairments.
- And more. There are many possible scenarios and factors for an undiagnosed brain injury.
Consequences of Undiagnosed Brain Injury
The long-term consequences of an undiagnosed brain injury can be devastating. Individuals can lose important treatment time, which can prolong recovery and possibly cause serious personal complications and setbacks. Individuals may experience difficulties at work or school, have trouble maintaining relationships, become socially isolated, and in some cases abuse drugs and alcohol. The Office on Disability estimates that one in two people living with a brain injury has some form of substance abuse issue.
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of brain injury may include any combination of the following:
- Physical changes - frequent headaches, fatigue, ringing in the ears, blurred or double vision, and balance disorders.
- Cognitive changes - short-term memory loss, slowness in thinking and response, difficulty learning new tasks, trouble making decisions, frequently getting lost, inability to concentrate, and socially inappropriate behavior.
- Emotional changes - becoming more irritable or angry, crying easily and often, depression, easily becoming overwhelmed, and difficulty sleeping.
Traumatic Brain Injury in America
Of the approximately 1.4 million Americans who seek medical treatment for traumatic brain injuries each year, 50,000 die and more than 80,000 of have long-lasting symptoms that affect their daily lives.
Approximately 3.1 million people need help with everyday living due to traumatic brain injuries. It is not uncommon for people living with TBI to experience long-term physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complications.
The number of people living with brain injuries who are not seen in an emergency department or who receive no care is unknown.
Diagnosing Brain Injury
The Glasgow Scale uses measurements such as length of unconsciousness and eye movement to diagnose and classify traumatic brain injuries as mild, moderate or sever. CT scans, MRIs and neuropsychological testing are also used to diagnose TBIs.
Sources: Brain Injury Association of America, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
