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Traumatic Brain Injury Services of California
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What To Expect After a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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Once a person has survived the injury, there may be changes that affect many areas of an individual’s life. These are typically grouped in three major categories:

Physical, Cognitive/Thinking, and Emotional/Behavioral Differences:

Physical changes may include:

  • Muscle coordination problems
  • Full or partial paralysis
  • Changes in senses: hearing, sight, smell, etc.
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches

Cognitive/Thinking changes may include:

  • Difficulty communicating
  • Memory problems
  • Poor judgement
  • Difficulty learning new things
Emotional/Behavioral changes may include:
  • Depression
  • Irritability/frustration
  • Difficulty with social skills
  • Inability to recognize changes in themselves

You can expect the most rapid recovery in the first 18 months to 2 years following the injury, however recovery can be a life long process. The type of injury, the severity of injury, the age of the person injured, as well as many other factors, affect the degree of improvement. Family and other support persons can play a major role in assisting an individual resume productive and meaningful activity.