After a brain injury, it’s common for patients to experience memory loss or have difficulty making new memories. This is known as post-traumatic amnesia or a post-traumatic confusional state. The condition can range from mild to severe and is an excellent gauge of how serious a brain injury is. We go over the basics of post-traumatic amnesia below and how you may be able to get compensation.
Types of Amnesia After a Brain Injury
There are two main types of amnesia that can occur after a brain injury:
- Retrograde amnesia. This type of amnesia occurs when an injury victim loses some or all of their previous memories.
- Anterograde amnesia. This refers to the inability to create new memories.
Depending on the location and severity of the injury, a patient may suffer from one or both types of amnesia following an accident. Most patients are able to recover, but others may experience lasting short and long-term memory loss.
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Amnesia
After a head injury, someone with post-traumatic amnesia may experience alarming symptoms, such as:
- Inability to remember the injury
- Sudden irritability
- Agitation and mood swings
- Angry outbursts
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sexual promiscuity
- Risk-taking behavior
- Confusion
- Poor balance
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Difficulty solving problems
- Trouble recognizing familiar faces
- Poor sense of time
- Wandering
- Seizures
Families are often surprised by the radical changes in behavior their loved ones can experience after a brain injury. They may be shocked that their family member is acting so out of character or become embarrassed by their lack of inhibition in public.
Occasionally, a patient will become quiet, childlike, and withdrawn. Making sure caregivers and family members have adequate support is crucial for a good outcome. Some things loved ones can do to support the patient include:
- Identifying yourself when you see them
- Asking permission before touching them
- Remind them what time of day it is
- Remind them they are safe and cared for
- Avoid arguing about delusions they may have
- Avoid asking them to remember the accident
- Don’t take things they say or do personally
- Write down things to tell their doctor
- Be patient and take breaks when needed
Amnesia Treatment and Recovery
In some cases, post-traumatic amnesia only lasts a few minutes following the incident. This is usually an indicator that the injury is on the mild side and that the patient has a good prognosis for recovery.
If amnesia persists for more than 24 hours after a brain injury, this is often an indicator that the situation is more severe and the patient may face more challenges during the recovery period. When post-traumatic amnesia lasts between 1-2 weeks, patients are generally expected to experience some persistent cognitive and visual deficits, with complete recovery taking several months.
For patients whose amnesia takes 2-12 weeks to resolve, reduced function may be permanent, and patients who require 12+ weeks are likely to have severe deficits and be unable to return to work. Even when post-traumatic amnesia resolves completely, it’s normal for patients to still have trouble recalling the injury or the time right before or after the accident.
Treatment for amnesia usually involves multiple different types of therapy, including:
- Cognitive therapy to re-teach basic memory and problem-solving skills
- Physical therapy to help patients become mobile after being stationary for an extended period
- Speech therapy to help patients re-learn communication and language skills
- Occupational therapy to help patients re-learn how to complete daily tasks and live independently
- Counseling to teach emotional regulation skills and help patients learn how to cope with their new normal
- Gentle exercise, plenty of sleep, and good nutrition to help the body heal physically
It’s also important to keep the patient safe while they cannot care for themselves or are prone to wandering. While post-traumatic amnesia in and of itself isn’t dangerous, patients can inadvertently cause themselves harm if they aren’t properly supervised during the recovery period.
How a Brain Injury Attorney Can Help
If you or someone in your family has experienced a brain injury, life may never be quite the same. The road to recovery is a long one, so we’re here to help. Contact Mazow | McCullough, PC today to learn more about your legal rights after an accident and how our qualified legal team can help. Call our office now at (978) 744-8000 or toll free at (855) 693-9084.
