What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A
traumatic brain injury or a TBI, is any time there is damage to the brain such as bruising, shearing, tearing, or blunt trauma. A concussion is considered a
mild traumatic brain injury or a mTBI. It's considered less severe and usually is recovered from more quickly than a TBI.
Concussion vs. Traumatic Brain Injury
People typically experience long-term symptoms from TBIs but those who experience
concussions can also experience the same if left untreated. The distinction between a concussion and a more severe TBI often comes down to the duration and severity of symptoms.
When to Seek a Brain Injury Specialist
Don't Ignore Persistent Symptoms
Seek out a
concussion specialist if you feel like you aren't getting better even though you are past the 2 to 4 week mark for healing. Some are even told by their primary care provider that because their MRI or CT scans are negative they are fine, but they will still be experiencing severe symptoms.
Comprehensive Testing for Brain Injuries
Whether you have a mTBI or TBI it's best to see someone who is trained to work with these conditions and give you the right environment to heal from your brain injury. A thorough evaluation should include neurological testing, balance assessment, and eye movement analysis.
Related Resources
Learn more about
the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury, or find out
how to tell if you have a TBI. Ready to get help?
Schedule a consultation with our brain injury specialists.
