Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The list below provides an outline of possible traumatic brain injury symptoms. Of course, they can be symptoms for other injuries and illnesses but only qualified medical personnel can diagnose. If you or a loved one has these symptoms especially after a blow to the head, go to the emergency room or call 911 immediately.
- Spinal fluid (thin water-looking liquid) coming out of the ears or nose
- Loss of consciousness; however, loss of consciousness may not occur in some concussion cases
- Dilated (the black center of the eye is large and does not get smaller in light) or unequal size of pupils
- Vision changes (blurred vision or seeing double, not able to tolerate bright light, loss of eye movement, blindness)
- Dizziness, balance problems
- Respiratory failure (not breathing)
- Coma (not alert and unable to respond to others) or semi-comatose state
- Paralysis, difficulty moving body parts, weakness, poor coordination
- Slow pulse
- Slow breathing rate, with an increase in blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Lethargy (sluggish, sleepy, gets tired easily)
- Headache
- Confusion
- Ringing in the ears, or changes in ability to hear
- Difficulty with thinking skills (difficulty “thinking straight", memory problems, poor judgment, poor attention span, a slowed thought processing speed)
- Inappropriate emotional responses (irritability, easily frustrated, inappropriate crying or laughing)
- Difficulty speaking, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing
- Body numbness or tingling
- Loss of bowel control or bladder control
