Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain caused by a violent blow, bump or jolt to the head or an object penetrating the skull. Falls, vehicle crashes, sports injuries, being struck by an object and service-related wounds can all impact the brain.

Traumatic brain injury: Symptoms

Depending on the cause of the injury, symptoms can vary from mild to moderate to severe. Concussions are a type of mild TBI. Physical symptoms may include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision and trouble concentrating. More severe injuries can cause periods of unconsciousness, a worsening or long-term headache, recurring nausea and vomiting, increased confusion, and loss of coordination.

Traumatic brain injury: Diagnosis

If you or a loved one has suffered a head injury, it is critical to get immediate medical treatment. At UF Health Jacksonville, our neurology specialists will ask about the details of the injury, discuss your symptoms and perform a neurological assessment to evaluate your memory and thinking skills. You may also need imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI.

Traumatic brain injury: Treatment

If you have suffered a mild TBI, you may require only minimal treatment including a period of rest from your activities for several weeks. For those who have experienced severe head injury, treatment may include hospital care or surgery followed by rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational and speech therapy.

To better serve our area’s military veterans and first responders who are experiencing persistent health issues associated with TBIs, we have created the UF Health Jacksonville Leon L. Haley Jr., M.D., Brain Wellness Program. Using an interdisciplinary treatment approach, our team of specialists offer a variety of services and strategies to help veterans and first responders begin to heal, improve quality of life, and deal with ongoing issues such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression or substance-use disorder.