Kenneth Goldblatt | October 20, 2018 | Personal Injury

Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? According to the Brain Injury Association of America, each year an estimated 2.4 million children and adults in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and another 795,000 individuals sustain an acquired brain injury (TBI) from non-traumatic causes. TBIs can affect the functionality of the brain—affecting thinking, reasoning, and memory. Whether the victim is an adult, a child, or an infant, TBIs can have a major impact on individuals and their families.

To raise awareness of traumatic brain injury, the Brain Injury Association of America recognizes National Brain Injury Awareness Month every March.

A 2015 Harris Poll reports that nearly 90 percent of Americans surveyed cannot correctly define a concussion, and 78 percent of those polled did not know the symptoms of a concussion. Of parents who participated in the poll, 37 percent said they would not know what to do in the event their child sustained a concussion.

The Law Offices of Goldblatt & Associates would like to take this opportunity to shed further light on concussion-related issues to help families, individuals, educators, health care professionals, and others to be more mindful of signs of a concussion, how to respond accordingly, and to identify resources to assist following a concussion.

Understanding TBI:
Have you ever hit your head as a result of a fall, car crash, or other type of activity and just “did not feel right” afterwards? After a few days, you returned to your normal activities, but continued to experience headaches, sensitivity to noise, or difficulty concentrating and remembering things. Does this sound familiar?

A TBI can disrupt the normal functions of the brain. TBIs—ranging from mild concussions to severe, life-threatening injuries—can be prevented. The burden of TBI can be reduced through prevention strategies and improvements in the health and quality of life for people living with a TBI.

Do you know the signs?
After a concussion signs and symptoms may not be readily apparent, and some may take days to appear. Watch for these general signs:
•Dizziness
•Headaches
•Blurred vision
•Nausea
•Vomiting
•Slurred speech
•Appearing dazed
•Ringing in the ears
•Delayed response to questions
•The person may or may not lose consciousness

People with a TBI need to be seen by a health care professional. Contact your health care professional if you think you or someone you know has a TBI. Your health care professional can refer you to a neurologist, neuropsychologist, neurosurgeon, or specialist in rehabilitation such as a speech pathologist. Getting help soon after the injury by trained specialists may speed recovery.

Rest is very important after a TBI because it helps the brain to heal. Ignoring your symptoms and trying to “tough it out” often makes symptoms worse. Be patient because healing takes time. Only when your symptoms have reduced significantly—and you have the approval of your health care professional—should you slowly and gradually return to your daily activities, such as work or school. If your symptoms come back or you get new symptoms as you become more active, this is a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. Stop these activities and take more time to rest and recover. As the days go by, you can expect to gradually feel better. If you do not think you are getting better, tell your doctor.

Also, you deserve a head injury attorney that advocates for your well-being, well beyond the four walls of the courtroom. The attorneys at Goldblatt & Associates, P.C. will fight for you every step of the way in an effort to get your life back on track. We’ll help ensure that you have access to the best medical experts and life planning tools you need, and that children, parents, other family members and friends know what to expect and understand that we are available as counselors and friends, thereby minimizing different or unfair treatment.

Contact Goldblatt & Associates at: 914-788-5000 for more information regarding Brain Injury Awareness Month or to find out about any of our other services.