Mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury symptoms

This article discusses the symptoms of mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury. Knowing these symptoms are important to know when to seek medical attention.

TBI symptoms vary depending on the extent of the injury and the area of the brain affected. Some symptoms appear immediately; others may appear several days or even weeks later. A person with TBI may or may not lose consciousness—loss of consciousness is not always a sign of severe TBI.

Symptoms of mild TBI

A person with a mild TBI may experience:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Tiredness or sleepiness
• A bad taste in the mouth
• A change in sleep habits
• Behavior or mood changes
• Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking
• Loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds to minutes¹
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Nausea or vomiting²

Symptoms of moderate or severe TBI

A person with moderate or severe TBI may have some of the symptoms listed above. In addition, the person may experience any of the following:

• Headache that gets worse or won’t go away
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Convulsions or seizures
• An inability to wake up from sleep
• Enlargement of the pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes
• Numbness or tingling of arms or legs
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
• Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to hours³

A person who suffers a blow to the head or another trauma that may have caused a TBI should seek medical attention.⁴

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