BRAIN INJURY SEVERITY

Not all brain injuries are the same.  They can range from total and complete disability to a spectrum of unpleasant changes.  The severity of a brain injury can be assessed by either the Rancho Los Amigos or Glasgow Coma Scale.

The Rancho Los Amigos scale ranges from Level 1 (No response to ALL stimuli) to Level 10 (Purposeful Appropriate-responds to all stimulus).  The Glasgow Coma Scale ranges from one (does not open eyes, makes no sounds, makes no movement) to fifteen (opens eyes spontaneously, oriented and converses normally, and obeys commands.  The Glasgow Coma Scale focuses on eye, verbal and motor.

It would be expected that persons with low scores on either scale need and are receiving expert medical care because of the severity of their condition.

On the Mild TBI spectrum of brain injuries, there may be headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in ears, loss of energy, sleep problems, changes in behavior and disposition, problems with memory, concentration, vision or sensitivity to light.

With Mild TBI after an accident, a person might be released from an Emergency Room with a form that suggests the patient follow-up with their medical provider.  Some persons may not follow this advice.

There are concussion clinics available that screen for Vestibular and Ocular Motor function and provide neuropsychological testing.  These clinics provide specialized treatment for these diagnosed problems.

If you are injured in an accident and have experienced any of the above changes, you owe it to yourself to be thoroughly evaluated at a concussion clinic.  The medical benefit is that you will heal.  The legal benefit is that you will have an objective evaluation of your Traumatic Brain Injury.