Head injuries can result from a variety of incidents, including motor vehicle accidents. Anyone in New Jersey who has a loved one that experiences a head injury will want to understand how these injuries are evaluated and what type of impact they may have on their family member’s life and health.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Progression indicate that a traumatic brain injury has the potential to affect multiple areas of a person’s functioning. Moods, emotions and behaviors may change. The ability to communicate or understand communications directed at them is something a person with a brain injury may experience. Balance, vision and cognition also have the ability to be impacted.
Medical personnel will work to evaluate the severity of a brain injury to begin learning the long-term impacts for the patient. As explained by the Brain Injury Association of America, a person’s verbal abilities, eye opening and physical movements are all measured in this effort. Scores are assessed for each factor per what is called the Glasgow Coma Scale. Based on the composite score, a Glasgow Outcome Scale then provides details about a prognosis.
A combined Glasgow Coma Scale score of eight or less represents a severe injury. A score between nine and 12 represents a moderate injury. Mild brain injuries are scored from 13 to 15. There are five outcomes on the scale with death being the most serious. A persistent vegetative state, severe disability, moderate disability and a good potential for recovery are the other four outcomes on the Glasgow Outcome Scale.