Symptoms of brain injury can also be symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they can be symptoms of numerous other neurological problems. The bottom line is this: if you have several of the symptoms, you need to schedule a visit with your primary care physician and discuss the need to see a brain injury specialist.
Neuropsychologist Glen Johnson developed a questionaire that we present here with his permission.
Headaches
- Do you have more headaches since the injury or accident?
- Do you have pain in the temples or forehead?
- Do you have pain in the back of the head - sometimes the pain will start at the back of the head and extend to the front of the head?
- Do you have episodes of very sharp pain - like being stabbed in the head - which lasts from several seconds to several minutes?
Memory
- Does your memory seem worse following the accident or injury?
- Do you seem to forget what people have told you 15 to 30 minutes ago?
- Do family members or friends say that you have asked the same question over and over?
- Do you have difficulty remembering what you have just read?
Word Finding
- Do you have difficulty coming up with the right word - you know the word that you want to say but cannot seem to spit it out?
Fatigue
- Do you get tired more easily - mentally and/or physically?
- Does the fatigue get worse the more you think or in very emotional situations?
Changes in Emotion
- Are you more easily irritated or angered - seems to come on quickly?
- Since the injury, do you cry or become depressed more easily?
Changes in Sleep
- Do you keep waking up throughout the night and early morning?
- Do you wake up early in the morning and can't get back to sleep?
Environmental Overload
- Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed in noisy or crowded places - feeling overwhelmed in a busy store or around noisy children?
Impulsiveness
- Do you find yourself making poor or impulsive decisions - saying things without thinking that may hurt others feelings; increase in impulse buying?
Concentration
- Do you have difficulty concentrating - cannot seem to stay focused on what you are doing?
Distraction
- Are you easily distracted - someone interrupts you while you are doing a task and you lose your place?
Organization
- Do you have difficulty getting organized or completing a task - leave out a step in a recipe or started multiple projects but don't complete them?
Dr. Johnson goes on to say, "If you have 5 or more Yes answers, discuss the results of this questionnaire with your doctor."
