It is important to diagnose a brain injury as early as possible due to their severe nature. The more quickly they are caught and diagnosed, the better chances for recovery there will be. Often, brain injuries can get worse over time making it even more important than ever to seek medical care immediately. Although it can be challenging to diagnose a brain injury, there are a number of medical tests that a professional may choose.. In addition to seeking medical treatment, it will be important to contact a personal injury attorney for their legal advice.
Brain Scans
There are a few different types of brain scans that may be offered to determine the severity of the injury. Brain scans can determine if surgery will be necessary to repair damage from the accident. A brain scan will be able to take a closer look at the damaged area of the brain to identify if there are any clots present.
- Computed Tomography (CT) CT scans take a closer look at the brain to look for issues within the brain such as:
- Swelling in the brain
- Hematomas
- Hemorrhages
- Skull Fractures
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are an incredibly accurate type of scan that can be ordered. Often they are not ordered until treatment has already commenced and it has been confirmed that there is a brain injury by some other type of test. They can pick up any small change that may happen.
Neurological Testing
It will be important following an injury to test how the brain is working. Neurological testing monitors motor skills, speech, balance, hearing, mood changes, mental health. Any slight change, including disorientation should be analyzed during an exam.
Second Opinions
Getting a second opinion is always a good next step following diagnosis of a brain injury, especially in the event that extensive treatment such as surgery is the recommendation. Surgery, especially brain surgery, can come with a large number of risks. A second opinion will be important to confirm that such an invasive treatment is the best way to move forward.
Being the victim of a brain injury can be a scary process that may leave the person with many questions. Diagnosing brain injuries can be challenging as symptoms do not always present right away. If you have received a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, consulting with a personal injury attorney may be helpful such as the Personal Injury attorney locals turn to.
