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Cognitive Difficulties After a Traumatic Brain Injury

| Mar 19, 2019 | Catastrophic Injury, Personal Injury

A brain injury is painful and, additionally, it can also cause cognitive issues that make it difficult for a survivor to think, process information, or remember important events. If you were in an accident that resulted in a severe brain injury due to someone’s negligence, you need to seek immediate medical attention and then begin the process of filing a catastrophic injury claim.

Defining Cognition

There are many aspects of cognition that can be affected by brain injuries.

In this context, cognition covers the following:

  • The ability to concentrate
  • The ability to understand information
  • The ability to remember events and information
  • The ability to communicate
  • The ability to organize and plan
  • The ability to solve problems and make decisions
  • The ability to control one’s impulse and desires

The Effects of a Brain Injury on One’s Cognitive Abilities

After sustaining a brain injury, an injured person might experience difficulties with attention, speech, planning, and memory. As a result, he or she might become restless, have issues with multi-tasking or finishing projects, and might get engaged in long-winded conversations.

Other issues a brain injury survivor might experience include:

  • Taking more time to understand what a person is saying
  • Taking more time to follow directions
  • Experiencing trouble with following a storyline in a TV show or movie
  • Taking more time to read and process written information
  • Having slower reaction times
  • Having trouble interpreting some else’s emotions through body language or facial expressions
  • Having trouble following a conversation

There are some steps a person with a traumatic brain injury can take to improve their concentration abilities. Focusing on one project at a time, reducing distractions, and regular breaks can boost a person’s ability to concentrate and process information with greater ease. Additionally, one can help improve these abilities through extensive practice. For example, reading a book in a quiet room can give the brain the exercise it needs.

Helping Your Loved One

If a loved one sustained a serious brain injury, there are some things you can do to help him or her cope with the effects of it.

Here are some tips you should keep in mind:

  • Use a gentle voice when speaking to him or her.
  • Avoid speaking at too quick a pace or unloading too much information at once.
  • Ask the injured person periodically throughout the conversation if he or she understood what you said or ask a question to figure out if what you said was understood.

Hire an Experienced Oneonta Personal Injury Attorney Today!

If you sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, you need to seek medical assistance as soon as possible to ensure you achieve the best possible recovery and prevent permanent damage. Your next priority should be to obtain the legal services of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. At Scarzafava, Basdekis & Dadey, PLLC, our Oneonta personal injury attorneys have decades of collective experience that we will use vigorously fight on your behalf for the compensation you deserve.

Call our law office today at (607) 228-8404 to schedule a complimentary case review with a compassionate member of our Oneonta legal team.

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