Most Common TBI Symptoms

What are common symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

TBI symptoms depend on:

• The type of injury

• How severe the injury is

• Which part of the brain gets injured

Traumatic brain injuries can affect both the exact place on the brain where the injury occurred and the surrounding tissues. The damage to the initial site can also impact the nearby areas of the brain. This means that after getting injured, some symptoms may show up immediately, while others might take days or even weeks to appear. And these symptoms can change and get worse as time goes on.

 A person with TBI may or may not lose consciousness. Losing consciousness does not always indicate a severe brain injury.

Common Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or Concussion symptoms:

• Headache

• Confusion

• Lightheadedness

• Dizziness

• Blurred vision

• Ringing in the ears

• A change in sleep habits

• Behavior or mood changes

• Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking

• Sensitivity to light or sound

• Nausea or vomiting

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Someone with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may experience the following symptoms, as well as some mild TBI symptoms:

Common Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms:

• Headache that gets worse or will not go away

• Loss of vision

• Repeated vomiting or continued nausea

• Slurred speech

• Seizures

• An inability to wake up from sleep

• Enlarged pupil(s) (dark center of eye)

• Numbness of arms or legs

• Clumsy movements

• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

• Loss of consciousness lasting minutes-hours

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