I am speaking from my own personal experience. Others will need to consult with their own physicians and therapists of course.My own head injury and recovery, well documented and besdides this site with a collection of helpful articles from professionals and even a few of my own…I also can be read in the self improvement arena as you can find me on selfgrowth.com, where I’m now the mind power expert with mind brain health and success articles , [Click Here to read my bio on self growth, a new window will open] ,

OK, let me summarize briefly my condition of my brain health and how well I’ve recovered. I know everyone is affected differently and I’ve been blessed in my recovery. ( my hemiparesis success story) .
Anyway, It wasnt right away but a couple years after , i was tested with a simpe gamer that checks brain agility, memory, concentration, even brain speed and brain age. Turns out , I was close to 70 based ony slow reaction, slow thinking, inability to speak clearly, and of course solving simple problems or puzzles

But my age at that time was 40 + years younger. But let me tell you, I was coming up with correct answers but I couldnt vocalize quickly nor move the pen accurately, so while there was a huge issue with cognitive processing, even the connection between mind and hand , eye etc was not there. Of course , I was using my good side to move the stylus . No way could I uee my weak side at the time. I mean I can use it for grasping large objects but just not the fine dexterity like the good side or should I just say better side as the tips of all my fingers just dont have the sensitivity they used to.

But first let me showe you how I went from 70 tol 30 in brain age. I optimized every aspect of brain health and improvement I could access of course butr simple brain games helped immensely. YOu can statr by getting easy puzzles even at the grocery store. I think I statred out with large mazes for little kids, I mean preschool puzzles, really.

After awhile I progressed and found that there had been a game played on Nintendo ds that was benefitting people of all ages but especiall aging adults who needed to keep their brain health, speed, memory, concentration, more of course.

So  I figure, what could it hurt? I could get aggravatyed if I could do anything but my one hand wasnt too bad , so I got a nintendo and Brain Age. I got mine at Walmart but they are all around.

Heres a ;link to Amazon where you can get a good deal and even get used ones if they are in stock/

Finances for head injured can still be diffucult for years. Make it easy to keep with some tips that make sense for everyone!

For some as myself just after my ‘extended’ hospital stay and even years later… Yes still not sure if everything is paid or if I;m missing a payment date, YUK… I’m afraid many have seen those bank or credit  fines

Writ e down bills, due dates, amounts, . YOur hand wriring may not be great but use  large printing or post it notes or use computer print out. If a dentist or somene sends a postcard reminder or invitation, keep it visable. It may not seem to well organized or may seem like clutter to some but keep some sort of date and payment reminders visable. OIften out of sitre, is forgotten.

Sure even a calendar with notes will work.

If ylou can use automated bank paymentmts, many banks now have free check paying services.

YOu can set it uo so payments are not missed

If you can , make annual payments on things as car insurance or other where a missed payment is serious consequences..

Make it easy on yourself to save, use automatic  deposits and transfers.

Lesson Learned…

Head Injury Symptoms Category

Head injury symptoms result from a  wide range of traumatic physical conditions that affect the skull, brain, scalp and associated tissues and blood vessels. Some of these conditions are relatively mild and pose little or no threat to long-term health and well being, while others pose grave threats to everyday life and normal brain function. Head injuries that impact brain health are also known as traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. The mildest form of TBI, called a concussion, occurs when a direct impact to the head or violent shaking of the head or torso jars the brain from its normal position inside your skull. Skull fractures are TBIs that damage the heavy bones that surround and protect your brain; they can trigger bleeding or laceration of brain tissue, as well as formation of areas of bruising and swelling called contusions.

Potential Head Injury Symptoms

Regardless of its cause, an injury to your head can produce relatively mild or serious head injury symptoms, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Common symptoms of milder injuries include bumps, bruises, small scalp cuts or lacerations, confusion, headaches, irritability, nausea, blurred vision, difficulties with body balance, fatigue, lightheadedness, noise or light sensitivity, lack of concentration, memory disturbances, sleep disturbances, alterations in your normal sense of taste and ringing in your ears.

Common symptoms of more severe forms of head injury include deep scalp lacerations, open head wounds, the presence of foreign objects that penetrate the scalp or skull, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, seizures, severe and persistent headaches, pale skin, walking difficulties, short-term memory loss and drainage of clear fluids or blood from the mouth or nose. Additional potential symptoms of a severe head injury include weakness on one side of the body (hemiparesis), abnormal widening or dilation of the pupil in one eye and moodiness, irritability or other changes in normal behavior.

It is important to note that not all people with head injuries develop the same types of http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/traumaticbraininjury.html. In addition, people who experience severe head injuries may have both mild and severe injury symptoms. For these reasons, anyone who shows any symptoms in the aftermath of a head injury should see a doctor as soon as possible. People with clear severe symptoms should receive medical care immediately/

Injury Diagnosis

In some cases, the effects of brain trauma don’t show up right away. For this reason, if you have a head injury, your doctor won’t necessarily be able to determine the extent of the damage without gathering several key pieces of information. Typically, she will begin collecting this information with a physical examination, complete medical history and investigation of the specific circumstances in which the injury occurred. Your doctor will also probably administer a test called a Glasgow Coma Scale, which measures your ability to open your eyes, move your arms and legs, and respond to questions and verbal prompts. The maximum possible score on the test is 15. People who score between 13 and 15 usually have only mild head injuries. People who score between 9 and 12 have moderate injuries, while those who score 8 or below have severe injuries.

Additional testing procedures used in a TBI diagnosis include blood tests, X-rays, a measurement of the brain’s electrical activity called an electroencephalogram (EEG), a combination of X-rays and computer imagery called a computed tomography (CT) scan, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which uses radio frequencies, computers and specialized magnets to generate detailed pictures of the brain.

Changes in Consciousness

The presence of a brain injury can alter your normal consciousness in several different ways. Some people develop a temporary reduction of conscious responsiveness called lethargy or stupor, which can typically be overcome with some sort of strong body manipulation or stimulation. A more serious form of consciousness alteration — called a coma —stems from widespread, scattered forms of brain damage and results in loss of awareness and a lack of responsiveness to all outside stimuli. Some people in comas recover consciousness in days or weeks, while others die or enter another state of consciousness called a vegetative state.

Unlike people in comas, people in vegetative states sometimes open their eyes, experience periods of relative alertness, move their bodies and respond reflexively to outside stimulation. In many cases, vegetative individuals regain some conscious function in a number of weeks. However, in other cases, vegetative patients show no signs of change for 30 days or longer, and therefore enter another state of consciousness alteration known as a persistent vegetative state. Adults who enter this state have roughly a 50 percent chance of improving and regaining consciousness in the next six months, while children have roughly a 60 percent chance of recovering. If a persistent vegetative state lasts for more than a year, the affected individual has very little chance of regaining consciousness. Those who do regain consciousness after this amount of time typically have significant or severe disabilities and require ongoing rehabilitation in order to gain even small improvements in everyday function.

Brain Injuries Category 

By Sylvia Behnish