Head Injury In Adults

When To Call A Professional

Call for emergency help immediately if you find someone unconscious at an accident scene. Also call for emergency help if someone with a serious head injury experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Confusion

• Difficulty walking

• Slurred speech

• Memory loss

• Poor coordination

• Irrational behavior

• Aggressive behavior

• Seizures

• Numbness or paralysis in any part of the body

Even if someone's head injury appears to be less severe, and the symptoms are mild, it may be possible that the person has had significant damage to the brain or its surrounding structures. This is especially true if the injured person:

• Is elderly

• Takes medication to thin the blood

• Has a bleeding disorder

• Has a history of heavy alcohol use

If the injured person has one or more of the risk factors listed above, call a doctor or go to an emergency department immediately.

Prognosis

The outlook depends on the severity of the injury:

• Mild head injuries - The prognosis is usually very good. Although some people experience postconcussion syndrome, this typically goes away after about three months. In most cases, there is no long-term damage, although improvement may be gradual.

• Moderate head injuries - The most dramatic improvement usually occurs within the first one to six weeks. After that time, there may be some remaining problems with memory or attention, but these may not be permanent.

• Severe head injuries - Up to 50% of severe head injuries are fatal. Among people who survive these injuries, about 20% suffer severe disabilities.

Additional Info

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke P.O. Box 5801 Bethesda, MD 20824 Toll-Free: (800) 352-9424 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 1080 Montreal Ave. St. Paul, MN 55116 Phone: (651) 695-2717 Toll-Free: (800) 879-1960 Fax: (651) 695-2791 http://www.aan.com/

Family Caregiver Alliance 690 Market St. Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: (415) 434-3388 Fax: (415) 434-3508 http://www.caregiver.org/