Head injuries can have serious consequences. This article outlines common signs and symptoms, emphasizing the importance of seeking immediate medical attention. Learn what to look for and contact GJEL for a free legal consultation if you’ve suffered a head injury.

Even when a head injury seems minor at first, symptoms can be delayed for hours or even days. Careful observation is important after any blow to the head, especially if the person briefly loses consciousness.

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Any kind of head injury could cause severe physical impairments. A head injury can occur if you’re hit in the head with any kind of object.
 
Sports and activities that engage the head in any capacity often result in the most head injuries, but you need to keep in mind that any activity could result in a head injury of some kind.
 
The injury could occur to any area of the head, such as the skull, scalp, or brain. Any kind of force that the body receives can be enough to shift the brain, resulting in an injury that could lead to a coma, stroke, or other conditions.
 
Injuries could result in a bruise that develops on the brain or fluid building on the brain that would need to be drained. If the injury results in a fracture of the skull, then there could be small pieces of the skull embedded in the brain.
 

If you were injured in an accident with a brain injury, contacting a skilled brain injury attorney can ensure your case is evaluated properly and your rights are protected.

 

Common Signs of a Head Injury

It’s important to be able to recognize signs and symptoms of head injury in adults so that you know how to treat them and when to seek medical attention.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away after a head injury if there is any loss of consciousness, even for a few seconds. You should also seek emergency care for a headache that keeps getting worse, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, extreme drowsiness, trouble waking the person up, severe confusion, agitation, or clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears. A visible deformity or soft spot on the skull also requires immediate medical attention.

Seeing blood or another obvious injury

One of the evident signs is seeing blood or an obvious injury to the head. If you aren’t sure exactly where the blood is coming from or aren’t sure of the exact location of the injury, then it’s best to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
 
The injury could be a simple laceration, but it could also be a significant injury that could lead to physical impairments.

Blood or clear fluid coming from the nose or ears after a head impact can be a serious warning sign and should be treated as an emergency.

Another sign can be confusion

A sign of a head injury is confusion. If you or someone who has been hit in the head of injured has trouble remembering basic details, such as names and locations, then it could be a reason to be concerned about head trauma of some kind.

Some people also feel mentally foggy, have trouble concentrating, or cannot remember the events right before or right after the injury. Severe confusion, unusual agitation, or an inability to recognize people or places are red flags that require immediate care.

Dizziness can also be cause for concern

Dizziness is one of the signs and symptoms of head injury in adults that could lead to other injuries occurring if you fall.

Balance problems, blurred vision, and sensitivity to noise can also appear after a concussion and should not be ignored.

Double Vision

Double vision is a sign of a head injury. When someone has been hit in the head, one of the first things that someone does is to ask how many fingers are seen or how many of a certain object are seen. This is to determine if there is any kind of double vision or any issues with seeing. Doctors will often tell you not to go to sleep or try to lie down after any kind of injury to the head. This is because any kind of swelling or injury could result in something that is more dangerous and could sometimes result in a loss of consciousness.

Vision changes can also include blurred vision. If one pupil becomes larger than the other, this is a medical emergency.

Headaches

You might have a headache after a brain injury, which is a common symptom. are present. This is one of the symptoms that needs to be examined as soon as possible to determine if there are other issues present. Sometimes, the headaches might not start until days or weeks after the injury.
 
Headaches could become severe and indicate swelling or other issues. Many people feel nauseous or experience vomiting with head injuries. You might be sensitive to light.

A headache that gets worse instead of better should be evaluated right away. Repeated vomiting, rather than a single isolated episode, is another important warning sign after a head injury.

Other Concussion Symptoms to Watch For

Not every head injury causes dramatic symptoms right away. Some concussion symptoms are more subtle but still deserve medical attention. These can include sleeping much more or less than usual, trouble falling asleep, irritability, sadness, mood swings, and ongoing trouble with focus or memory.

Signs in Infants and Young Children

Young children may not be able to explain how they feel after a head injury, so parents should watch for warning signs such as inconsolable crying, unusual fussiness, refusing to eat or nurse, loss of interest in favorite toys or activities, or changes in walking and coordination. These symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation.

 
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