A brain injury is the result of a serious blow or jolt to the head. However, they are known as a “silent epidemic” because they can often go undetected for long periods of time. As a result, a person who sustains a blow to the head should always seek immediate care at a hospital.
Getting a proper medical diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a brain injury survivor gets the right treatment and does not worsen their condition. Here are a few of the key ways that doctors and medical providers will diagnose a brain injury.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a 15-point scoring system that medical professionals use to describe the level of severity of a person’s brain injury. This involves testing a patient in three areas of functionality:
- Ability to speak
- Ability to open eyes
- Ability to move
Once the doctor evaluates the person’s level of consciousness, ability to obey commands, and responses to stimuli, they will give the patient a score from 1 to 15. The following are the level of severity in terms of scores:
- Mild TBI: GSC 13-15
- Moderate TBI: GCS 9-12
- Severe TBI: GCS 1-8
Imaging Tests
Additionally, various imaging tests can be used to confirm the presence of a TBI, including:
- Computerized tomography (CT Scan). This takes x-rays from many angles to create a complete picture of the brain and whether there is any bleeding, bruising, or other damage.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This method uses magnets and radio waves to produce more detailed images than CT scans; it’s often used in follow-up assessments of a TBI.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in an accident due to another person’s negligence, you should not be on the hook for your medical expenses and lost wages when you did nothing wrong. At the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley, our tenacious legal team is prepared to handle your case from start to finish and fight for your maximum recovery.
Contact our Chico brain injury attorneys at (530) 413-0245 to speak with our legal for free today.