According to a 2023 report to the legislature submitted by the Washington State Department of Social and Health, over 13,000 traumatic brain injury-related injuries and deaths occurred in-state from 2019 to 2020. The primary causes were motor vehicle crashes, suicide and falls. More than 3,000 TBI cases involving people over 65 were caused by falls. The National Institute of Health states that TBI symptoms depend on the injury type, the severity and its location on the brain.
Understanding more about TBI
The injury may be local at the point of impact or can also affect the surrounding tissue. Symptoms may present right away, while others can take days or weeks to manifest. The symptoms may evolve with time. People with a TBI condition may or may not lose consciousness temporarily. Per the CDC, high-risk groups include the traditionally marginalized, those suffering from homelessness, veterans, people in correctional facilities, survivors of domestic violence and those living in rural areas.
Symptoms associated with TBI
Someone with a mild case of TBI may experience headaches, confusion, dizziness, blurry vision, lightheadedness or ringing in the ears. Changes in behavior, sleeping habits or a sudden onset of fatigue could also be signs of TBI. Mild cases of traumatic brain injuries often result in impaired concentration, memory and thinking. Sensitivity to light, brief blackouts and nausea are symptoms of mild TBI.
Moderate TBI may result in persistent headaches, loss of vision, or slurred speech. Another indicator for moderate TBI is enlarged pupils in one or both eyes. People with moderate TBI may also experience repeated vomiting, numbness in the extremities, convulsions or seizures. A TBI victim may suffer from prolonged loss of consciousness lasting from minutes to hours or may be unable to wake up.