Head Injury - The Hidden Condition
By Jane Kua - A Member of the Wolferstans Head and Spinal Injury Unit
The term ‘head injury’ can conjure up the image of a victim being in a vegetative state or suffering with severe mental or physical disablement. In fact, the vast majority of victims are more likely to suffer with one or more of a range of ‘hidden’ symptoms, which although more subtle can have a very profound impact upon the lives of sufferers and their families. The subtlety of these symptoms can make it difficult for victims to achieve the level of care and support they need.
What are these 'hidden' symptoms?
There are many of these 'hidden symptoms' including the following:
- Memory loss
- Attention and concentration problems
- Personality change
- Disinhibition
- Aggression and anger
- Language and communication problems
- Cognitive problems
- Mood swings
How significantly do they affect the daily life of the victim?
Following their injury, victims will be looking to rebuild their lives. Whether it be returning to the family, work, education, a favourite hobby, or even just returning to socialising with their friends, they can face restriction and frustration. Take the following examples below;
- A victim might no longer have the temperament or cognitive skills to return to their job
- Aggressive and/ or inappropriate behaviour might mean a victim loses contact with friends
- A change in personality might have devastating consequences on family/marital relationships
- Assistance may now be required for day to day tasks around the home
Victims may suffer a low self esteem as a result, and in their eagerness for acceptance they might become vulnerable to the exploitations of others. Further, quite often a victim might lack insight into their condition, and this can make matters worse.
What about the families of those affected?
It often falls to families to provide day to day care for a victim, and also to seek assistance for them on their behalf. Tasks can range from helping a loved one to shave or dress to trying to diffuse aggressive outbursts. Further, it is often family members who have to pick up the pieces when a loved one experiences a setback in consequence of their head injury.
What can be done to help?
Appropriate and prompt rehabilitation and support is vital. It is not a cure but it can help a person get the most out of life and achieve things they might not have thought possible following their injury. The nature and level of support depends of course on the individual and the injury suffered. The assistance of occupational therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, ‘enablers’, and of course family, can make all the difference in helping victims achieve their optimal level of functioning in society.
If the head injury was caused by the fault of someone else then a victim may be able to pursue a claim for compensation. It is important to instruct a Solicitor who specialises in this type of claim to ensure that you are being represented by someone who fully understands the nature of the injury and who has contact with specialist medical and rehabilitation advisors and who can secure funding to maximise and advance the support that is needed.
For further information please contact our specialist Head Injury team at Wolferstans on 01752 663295, or email Andrew Warlow