The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
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Brain Injury and Cognitive Functions
Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
Depending on the severity of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and which areas of the brain were affected, a victim’s cognitive functions can be interrupted in a variety of ways. It is possible for victims of serious brain injuries to be mentally incapacitated for life, while other more moderate cases may induce symptoms that fade over time, or else result in only minor disabilities. Unfortunately, even these milder symptoms can have a dramatic effect on an individual’s quality of life.
Types of Mental and Cognitive Disabilities
The mental symptoms that occur after a brain injury are typically classified according to three types of neuropsychological problems:
- Behavioral issues – Higher levels of aggressiveness, anger, and self-centeredness may be apparent, along with an overall inability to filter inappropriate behavior.
- Cognitive impairment – Memory problems, reasoning problems, language disorders, and other issues can signify an impairment of the intellect.
- Emotional problems – Apathy, depression, low self-esteem, irritability, and anti-social tendencies are often observed by friends and family members.
A victim of a serious brain injury might show several of these symptoms to a significant degree, while a more moderate injury might reveal only a few. If the symptoms persist over a year after first emerging, they are assumed to be permanent.
Signs of Mental and Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment in brain injury victims can take on many forms. Memory problems are one of the most common symptoms experienced immediately after an accident. Often, a brain injury victim will not remember the events that took place right before, during, or after their accident. This is termed post-traumatic amnesia. Usually, memory problems will fade as swelling in the brain reduces, but this is not always the case. After a severe brain injury, some memory loss can be permanent.
Other signs that a person’s mental and cognitive functions have been interrupted are:
- Slow thinking
- Reduced concentration or reduced attention span
- Difficulty making plans and executing them
- Language disorders
- Loss of rational judgment
If you notice any of these signs after you or a loved one has suffered a head injury – for example, after a car accident – rehabilitative therapy may be necessary to help you reduce the problem and its impact. Some brain injury victims will require a lifetime of treatment and at-home care, resulting in constant financial and emotional hardship for their families.
When a person suffers a brain injury as the result of another party’s negligence or recklessness, their lives are often never the same. Our experienced brain injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and recover the compensation you need to afford quality treatment.
If you or one of your loved ones has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Washington D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, please contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation. We are experienced Maryland Brain Injury Lawyers and may be able to help you recover financially from your loss.
