A TBI may occur after your head strikes an object or when an object goes through your skull and damages your brain. Many TBIs occur during motor vehicle accidents. Falls, firearms, explosions, and assaults are other major causes.

TBIs can cause many symptoms, depending on their severity and which part of the brain they affect. These are possible symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness
• Trouble concentrating
• Headache
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Severe tiredness (fatigue)
• Memory problems
• Trouble thinking
• Mood changes
• Personality changes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Agitation
• Seizures
• Change in sleep patterns
• Trouble waking up
• Problems with coordination
• Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs

Your healthcare provider will ask you questions about how the injury occurred and if you are having any symptoms. They will also likely want to know if you were unconscious after your injury and will ask you questions to evaluate your thought process.

You may need X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI of your head and neck to assess the extent of the injury.

You may also need a neuropsychological assessment. It may help the provider find specific problems with memory and thinking skills.

A mild brain injury may not require medical care. More severe cases require medical care.

If your injury is severe, you may need surgery to treat bleeding or bruising. After treatment, you may also need rehabilitation. During rehab, therapists may help you regain abilities and skills that were lost due to the injury. For instance, you may need help learning to speak, move, and take care of yourself again. Social support is also an important part of rehab for you and your family.

You can take many steps to protect yourself from a TBI:

• Don’t drive when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when you're too tired.
• Always wear a seat belt while in a vehicle. Make sure airbags are in working order in your car.
• Wear a helmet while on a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse. Also wear a helmet during contact sports, such as football, and when riding skates or a skateboard, or while batting during baseball or softball.
• Take precautions to prevent falls around your home.
• Keep guns unloaded and locked away.
• Never work on a ladder if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Alcohol can make you dizzy. Some medicines also can make you dizzy or affect your balance.
• Have your vision checked at least once a year. Poor vision can increase your risk for falls and other types of accidents.
• If you have diabetes and have numbness in your feet, don't walk in poorly lit areas.

For children:

• Buckle your child into the appropriate child safety seat every time the child rides in a car.
• Never shake a baby.
• Use safety gates and window guards to keep children safe from falling out of windows or down stairs.

This type of injury may cause long-term changes. It may affect your thinking, your mood, or your ability to think, see, or hear normally. If these changes are severe enough, you may need help with your daily activities.

Protect your head. Take extra care not to do anything that could put you at risk for another head injury.

Take it slow. Get plenty of rest and take time needed for your brain to heal. The brain is slow to recover. Also don't drive a car or ride a bike until your healthcare provider approves. You may have a delayed reaction time after suffering a brain injury. Don't take part in sports or other physical activities after a concussion or other TBI until your provider says it's safe. Often people start with very mild exercise before going on to normal activity.

Use memory aids. Use notes, a white board, alarm clocks, calendars, and your mobile phone to help you remember important events or activities. Search the web for helpful memory apps you can download to your phone or computer.

Evaluate and adapt job or school tasks. Depending on your disability, your employer or school may be able to make some accommodations for you to continue work. Consider options with a flexible schedule or part time work Reduce distractions and clutter in your work area and make daily "To Do” lists. Take notes or ask to use a tape recorder to help you remember things. Ask for less stressful assignments that have a flexible deadline.

Get support. Consider joining a local support group or find one online. Sharing your story and learning how others manage their condition can help.