When a traumatic brain injury occurs, according to the National Institutes of Health, several brain functions are disrupted causing various degrees of damage from mild to permanent. The following six brain functions suffer the most after a traumatic brain injury, according to the Mayo Clinic:
1) Nerves: Facial muscle paralysis; Eye nerve damage resulting in double vision; Loss of sense of smell; Vision loss; Loss of facial sensation; Problems with swallowing
2) Intellect: Memory; Learning; Reasoning; Mental processing speed; Judgment; Attention or concentration; Problem-solving skills Multitasking abilities; Organization; Decision-making; Task initiation or completion ability
3) Communication: Difficulty understanding speech or writing; Difficulty with speech or writing; Disorganized thoughts; Conversational confusion and awkwardness
4) Behavior: Lack of self-control; Risky behavior; Self-image issues; Social difficulties; Verbal or physical outbursts
5) Emotions: Depression; Anxiety; Mood swings; Irritability; Lack of empathy; Anger; Insomnia and other sleep-related problems; Self-esteem changes
6) Sensory: Ringing in the ears; Problems with hand-eye coordination; Blind spots or double vision; Issues with taste or smell; Tingling, pain, or itching of the skin; Dizziness or vertigo; Object-recognition difficulties