Do you have existing ADHD symptoms following a recent vehicular accident? Did your loved one develop secondary ADHD after sustaining a head injury? Could a kid with preexisting ADHD develop pediatric traumatic brain injury?
A million Americans seek urgent medical care for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) each year. Although some of them are fortunate to survive, there’s a risk of suffering from TBI-related disability. This will have a significant impact on several aspects of your life.
It’s essential to understand the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury, especially if you get it from an accident. A personal injury lawyer can ensure you have everything you need to pursue compensation.
Most Common Neurobehavioral Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
An impact on the head that disrupts normal brain function leads to TBI. It can affect your cognitive function, such as learning and thinking skills. TBI can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
Moderate and severe TBI can affect a person’s state of consciousness, responsiveness, or awareness. Some will develop seizures, accumulation of brain fluid (hydrocephalus), infection, frequent headaches, or vertigo.
TBI can also lead to:
- Cognitive problems: reasoning, judgment, memory, learning, attention or concentration
- Executive functioning problems: struggling in problem-solving, multitasking, starting and finishing tasks
- Communication problems
- Behavioral problems: difficulty with self-control, social situations, lack of awareness of abilities
- Emotional changes: anger, irritability, insomnia, depression, anxiety
Severe TBI can also increase the chance of degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder observed in children. However, it can still affect adults. Common symptoms include inattention, poor impulse control, difficulty keeping attention, and high energy levels.
ADHD is also one of the most common neurobehavioral effects of TBI. It occurs in 20-50% of patients post-injury. Some of the most common issues include issues in working memory, concentration, attention, language, social judgment, behavior, and impulsiveness.
Diagnosing ADHD in adults is harder since it’s not yet clear whether the symptoms used to diagnose teenagers and children apply to adults.
An ADHD diagnosis usually involves the following steps:
- The doctor will ask about your current symptoms. However, the diagnosis cannot yet be confirmed unless these have been present since childhood.
- You may be diagnosed with ADHD if you possess at least five symptoms of impulsiveness and hyperactivity listed in the diagnostic criteria for children with ADHD.
- If you find it hard to recall symptoms you had as a child, the doctor may request for old records or talk to your parents or teachers.
- Your symptoms must have a moderate effect on different aspects of your life such as driving dangerously, underachieving at work, or difficulty maintaining relationships.
Post-Concussion Syndrome vs. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Many people experience post-concussion syndrome (PCS) after a head trauma. TBI refers to the event of the injury. In contrast, PCS is the set of symptoms that manifest at any time after head trauma.
The connection between ADHD and PCS is still being researched. Some studies show that those with ADHD-like symptoms have an increased risk of concussions. Impulsivity means those with ADHD are highly likely to do something that puts them at risk of concussion.
Both ADHD and TBI affect an area in the brain known as basal ganglia. This explains why the symptoms observed are similar.
Some factors can help determine whether your symptoms are associated with ADHD or post-concussion syndrome.
Start of your symptoms
Late-onset attention deficit disorder in adults is quite rare. Some patients are misdiagnosed with ADHD after suffering from head trauma. Post-concussion syndrome happens after a direct head impact, whiplash, or jostling of the brain.
If the symptoms began in childhood, both post-concussion syndrome and ADHD diagnoses are possible. If the symptoms are already present during childhood but exacerbated after a head injury, ADHD and post-concussion syndrome are also both possible.
PCS symptoms are associated with difficulty in concentration
The doctor must scrutinize your symptoms as a whole in order to distinguish between ADHD and post-concussion syndrome. If you have hallmark symptoms of both ADHD and common concussion symptoms, then post-concussion syndrome is more likely the culprit.
Treatment Options Available for ADHD and Post-Concussion Syndrome
Treating both conditions involves a combination of therapy, lifestyle changes, and, sometimes, medical intervention. Examples include:
- Cognitive Therapy: This benefits patients struggling with learning, attention, emotional symptoms, or behavior-related problems.
- Mindfulness: A study has shown that mindfulness therapy improves executive attention if done properly and regularly. It can also reduce ADHD symptoms.
- Medication: It’s usually not recommended for post-concussion patients because of possible adverse reactions. However, this can be beneficial for classic ADHD patients. Stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin are commonly used to treat ADHD but are not recommended for post-concussion syndrome due to potential risks and complications.
It might be worth seeing whether you improve with using non-pharmaceutical interventions like therapy and lifestyle change. If it’s not enough, you can discuss it with your doctor to determine a medication regimen appropriate for your needs.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Make sure to do the following right after the accident:
- Check yourself for injuries, including shock. Call 911 right away to seek immediate police and medical assistance.
- Don’t attempt to move your car if your car is wrecked or you/others have serious injuries. If none of these conditions apply, you may be required to move your vehicle out of traffic.
- Try to collect information such as:
- Names, contact information, and insurance carrier of all parties involved in the accident.
- Police officer’s name, badge number, and contact information.
- Details about the accident, such as date, time, location, and directions you and the other drivers were taking.
- Photos of the vehicles involved, scene of the accident, damaged properties, injuries, and driving conditions.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer before closing any settlement offer. Don’t sign any insurance documents if you don’t have your car accident lawyer with you.
- File a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the damages you sustained, whether it be a severe or mild traumatic brain injury. Having someone with legal expertise by your side can boost the chances of winning your case.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
The long-term effects of traumatic brain injury, or any head injury for that matter, must be taken seriously. It’s important to have someone on your side to ensure you have sufficient resources to recover.
The personal injury lawyers of The Clark Law Office have decades of experience helping victims who have sustained head injuries or developed mental disorders due to an accident. We assist clients and their loved ones in navigating the technicalities of car accident cases. Our extensive network can help strengthen your case. Book a free consultation with us today.
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