Head Injury : Symptoms

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Symptoms could include:
The signs of a head injury can occur immediately or develop slowly over several hours. Even if the skull is not fractured, the brain can bang against the inside of the skull and be bruised. (This is called a concussion) The head may look fine, but...
Source:ADAM
Date:June 9, 2008
A head injury may cause damage both from the direct physical injury to the brain and from secondary factors, such as lack of oxygen, brain swelling, and disturbance of blood flow. Both closed and penetrating head injuries can cause swirling moveme...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Taste impairment ranges from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.
Source:ADAM
Date:February 12, 2007
Dysgeusia is a disorder of the sense of taste. Any condition that affects the ability to taste is referred to as dysgeusia.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Taste alteration refers to a decrease in the ability to taste foods (hypogeusia), changes in how food tastes (dysgeusia), or the complete loss of the ability to taste foods (ageusia). It also refers to the presence of a metallic or medicine-like taste in the mouth.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
Aphasia is condition characterized by either partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or using written words. A person with aphasia may have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, recognizing the names of objects, or understanding what other people have said.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Aphasia is a communication disorder that occurs after language has been developed, usually in adulthood. Not simply a speech disorder, aphasia can affect the ability to comprehend the speech of others, as well as the ability to read and write.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Treating AphasiaAphasia occurs when a part of the brain that processes language is damaged. Most people who have a stroke or a brain injury are tested for aphasia.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
What Is Aphasia?Aphasia is a loss of language skills.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Aphasia is an impairment of spoken language understanding and expression associated with brain damage. Neurologic etiologies that affect the left cerebral cortex can lead to aphasia (sometimes termed dysphasia).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
A condition, caused by neurological damage or disease, in which a person ' s previous capacity to understand or express language is impaired. In aphasia, the ability to understand language and to translate thoughts into words has been impaired by injury to the brain.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Pupura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Blindness is the lack of vision, or a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Blindness may be partial, with very limited vision, or complete, with no perception of light. People with vision worse than 20/200, or a field of vision of less than 20 degrees in the better eye, are considered legally blind in most states in the U.S.
Source:ADAM
Date:February 22, 2007
A bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the skin.
Source:ADAM
Date:May 17, 2007
Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Purpura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Pupura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Choking is when someone can't breathe because food, a toy, or other object is blocking the airway (throat or windpipe).
Source:ADAM
Date:January 16, 2007
Choking is a condition caused by inhalation of a foreign object that partially or fully blocks the airway. Choking is a major cause of respiratory emergencies and cardiac arrest in infants and children.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
This is an extreme medical emergency. Knowing what to do can help save your baby's life.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Blockage of the throat or windpipe by an object. Choking is a major cause of death for children under three, and is a hazard for older children as well.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Choking is the inability to breathe because the trachea is blocked, constricted, or swollen shut. Choking is a medical emergency.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
First Aid: ChokingCall 911 if the victim loses consciousness.Choking occurs when the airway to the lungs becomes blocked, placing the victim's life in danger. Start rescue techniquesright away.1Identify ChokingLook for a hand raised to the throat,...
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Coma, from the Greek word " koma, " meaning deep sleep, is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. Furthermore, in a deep coma, even painful stimuli (actions which, when performed on a healthy individual, result in reactions) are unable to affect any response, and normal reflexes may be lost.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Coma, from the Greek word koma , meaning deep sleep, is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. Furthermore, in a deep coma, even painful stimuli (actions which, when performed on a healthy individual, result in reactions) are unable to cause any response, and normal reflexes may be lost.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Confusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity. When confused, you have difficulty focusing your attention and may feel disoriented. Confusion interferes with your ability to make decisions.
Source:ADAM
Date:February 13, 2008
Uncoordinated movement is an abnormality of muscle control or an inability to finely coordinate movements, resulting in a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fro motion of the trunk or the limbs.
Source:ADAM
Date:March 5, 2007
Ataxia, a medical term originated from the Greek language meaning " without order, " refers to disturbances in the control of body posture, motor coordination, speech control, and eye movements. Several brain areas, including the cerebellum and the spinocerebellar tracts, substantia nigra, pons, and cerebral cortex control these functions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Lack of coordination in the muscles. Ataxia, an extreme lack of coordination of the muscles, is a symptom of damage to the central nervous system.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Developmental coordination disorder is diagnosed when children do not develop normal motor coordination (coordination of movements involving the voluntary muscles). Developmental coordination disorder has been known by many other names, some of which are still used today.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
When one pupil (of the eye) is a different size from the other one, there may be a serious underlying cause.
Source:ADAM
Date:April 30, 2007
An ear discharge is drainage of blood, ear wax , pus, or fluid from the ear.
Source:ADAM
Date:February 19, 2007
Nasal discharge is any mucus-like material that comes out of the nose.
Source:ADAM
Date:January 30, 2008
Drowsiness refers to feeling abnormally sleepy during the day -- often with a strong tendency to actually fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate times.
Source:ADAM
Date:October 31, 2007
Hypersomnia refers to a set of related disorders that involve excessive daytime sleepiness. There are two main categories of hypersomnia: primary hypersomnia (sometimes called idiopathic hypersomnia) and recurrent hypersomnia (sometimes called recurrent primary hypersomnia).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
Facial swelling involves an accumulation of fluid in the face, which may extend to the neck and upper arms.
Source:ADAM
Date:January 22, 2007
A facial fracture means you have one or more broken bones in your face. These may be in your jaw, nose, cheeks, or the sockets around your eyes.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a seizure involving the entire body, usually characterized by muscle rigidity , violent rhythmic muscle contractions , and loss of consciousness . The condition is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the nerve cells of the brain.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 21, 2006
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are extremely rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medications. See also: Tension headache Cluster headache Migraine with aura Migraine without aura
Source:ADAM
Date:June 19, 2008
A headache involves pain in the head which can arise from many disorders or may be a disorder in and of itself. There are three types of primary headaches: tension-type (muscular contraction headache), migraine (vascular headaches), and cluster.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Headache is a pain in the head and neck region that may be either a disorder in its own right or a symptom of an underlying medical condition or disease. The medical term for headache is cephalalgia.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
A headache involves pain in the head that can arise from many disorders or may be a disorder in and of itself. Headaches can be categorized as primary or secondary.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Hearing loss is the total or partial inability to hear sound in one or both ears. See also: Hearing loss of aging
Source:ADAM
Date:October 24, 2007
Most people over age 65 have some hearing loss, and by age 80, almost everyone does. Because hearing loss usually occurs slowly over the years, you may not realize your hearing ability has gotten worse.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
As you age, some hearing loss is normal. You lose more than the ability to hear how loud a sound is. You also lose the ability to hear certain types of sounds. For example, you might not be able to hear some of the high-pitched sounds of a child's voice.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to apprehend sound. Sound can be measured accurately.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Hearing begins in the womb- pregnant women have reported feeling the fetus move in response to loud noises at 31 weeks (7 weeks before full-term delivery). Newborns are sensitive to the location, frequency, pitch, and volume of sounds.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Hearing impairment is the temporary or permanent loss of some or all hearing in one or both ears. There are three types of hearing impairment that occur in young children: conductive hearing loss, a usually temporary interference with the reception of sound from the outer ear to the middle or inner ear sensorineural hearing impairment, a permanent abnormality of the cochlear hair cells of the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or the auditory center of the brain mixed hearing impairment, a combination of conductive and sensorineural impairments Hearing impairments also are classified as prelingual (occurring before a child learns to speak) and post-lingual (occurring after the child has acquired language).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to apprehend sound. Sound can be measured accurately.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to comprehend sound. Sound can be accurately measured.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
The term anosmia means lack of the sense of smell. It may also refer to a decreased sense of smell.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
The term anosmia means lack of the sense of smell. It may also refer to a decreased sense of smell.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
A normal breathing rate for an adult at rest is 8 to 16 breaths/minute. For an infant, a normal rate is up to 44 breaths/minute. Tachypnea is a medical term that your doctor would use to describe your breathing if it is too fast, particularly if you have rapid, shallow breathing due to an associated lung disease or other medical cause. In contrast, the term hyperventilation is usually used if you are taking rapid, deep breaths because of anxiety or panic. The terms may be used interchangeably, however.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 13, 2006
Irritability is an excessive response to stimuli .
Source:ADAM
Date:November 12, 2007
Unconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and other stimuli around him or her. Often, this is called a coma or being in a comatose state. Other changes in awareness can occur without becoming unconscious. Medically, these are called "Altered Mental Status" or "Changed Mental Status." They include sudden confusion, disorientation, or stupor. Unconsciousness and any other SUDDEN change in mental status must be treated as a medical emergency. If someone is awake but less alert than usual, ask a few simple questions -- What is your name? What is the date? How old are you? If the person doesn't know or answers incorrectly, then his or her mental status is diminished.
Source:ADAM
Date:January 16, 2007
Swallowing pain refers to a strong feeling of uncomfortable squeezing and burning while swallowing, which may be felt high in the neck or lower down behind the breastbone. Such pain may be a symptom of a serious disorder. See also: Swallowing difficulty
Source:ADAM
Date:November 13, 2007
Nausea is the sensation of having an urge to vomit. Vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth.
Source:ADAM
Date:July 25, 2007
Nausea is the sensation of having a queasy stomach or being about to vomit. Vomiting , or emesis, is the expelling of undigested food through the mouth.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Definition and classification Pain is a universal human experience. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as " an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Pain, medically termed "nociception," is a response to noxious stimuli that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons . The discomfort signals actual or impending injury to the body.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Communicating About PainResourcesAmerican Pain Foundation888-615-7246www.painfoundation.orgAmerican Chronic Pain Associationwww.theacpa.orgThe National Pain Foundation www.painconnection.orgYou have a right to have pain treated. Untreated pain can...
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or potential injury to the body.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Measuring Your PainA pain scale helps you rate pain intensity. In the scale, 0 means no pain, and 10 is the worst pain possible.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or potential injury to the body.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by nerves in the body. Pain arises from any number of situations.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Paralysis is defined as complete loss of strength in an affected limb or muscle group. The chain of nerve cells that runs from the brain through the spinal cord out to the muscle is called the motor pathway.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Paralysis is defined as complete loss of strength in an affected limb or muscle group. The chain of nerve cells that runs from the brain through the spinal cord out to the muscle is called the motor pathway.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Nausea is the sensation of being about to vomit. Vomiting, or emesis, is the expelling of undigested food through the mouth.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Nausea is the sensation of being about to vomit. Vomiting, or emesis, is the expelling from the stomach of undigested food through the mouth.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Forcibly disgorging the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Vomiting in children has a wide range of causes, from ordinary cases of stomach flu that spontaneously resolve within days to serious disorders of the digestive tract and other problems.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Nausea and vomiting are recognized as two separate and distinct conditions. Nausea is the subjective, unpleasant feeling or urge to vomit, which may or may not result in vomiting.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
Agitation refers to an unpleasant state of extreme arousal, increased tension , and irritability.
Source:ADAM
Date:May 26, 2008
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior due to an excessive electrical activity in the brain.
Source:ADAM
Date:August 6, 2007
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain . Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
A temporary series of uncontrollable muscle spasms brought on by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Also known as convulsion, clonic seizure, or tonic-clonic seizure.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Children with epilepsy may have seizures only once in a while, or every day. Though seizures can be scary for parents and caregivers, they aren’t painful and are usually brief.
Source:StayWell
Date:July 16, 2004
First Aid: SeizuresA seizure results from a sudden rush of abnormal electrical signals in the brain. Symptoms may range from a minor daze to uncontrollable muscle spasms(convulsion).In some cases, the victim may even lose consciousness.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Breathing difficulties involve a sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of not getting enough air. See also difficulty breathing - first aid.
Source:ADAM
Date:April 12, 2007
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the patient ' s level of physical activity. It is a symptom of a variety of different diseases or disorders and may be either acute or chronic.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Speech impairment may be any of several speech problems, particularly the following: Dysarthria is difficult, poorly articulated speech, such as slurring. Aphasia is impaired expression or comprehension of written or spoken language. Dysarthria is occasionally confused with aphasia. It is important to distinguish between a difficulty in articulation of words versus a problem with the production of language, as these have different causes.
Source:ADAM
Date:April 23, 2008
Dysarthria is a speech diagnostic term that can be used to classify various types of neuromuscular speech disturbances. Dysarthria results from notable degrees of one or more abnormalities involving speech musculature, including weakness, paralysis, incoordination, sensory deprivation, exaggerated reflex patterns, uncontrollable movement activities, and excess or reduced tone.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
What Is Dysarthria?Dysarthriais a speech problem caused by a lack of control over muscles in the face and mouth.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Dysarthria is a group of speech impairments due to weakness, incoordination, spasticity, rigidity, or irregular movements caused by damage to the nervous system. Speech abilities depend on the coordinated function of muscles of respiration, phonation (larynx), and articulation.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Treating DysarthriaDysarthria occurs when the part of the brain that controls speech production is damaged. When this happens, the muscles needed to make certain sounds can’t be used fully.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Speech disorders include several speech-related problems that result in impaired or ineffective oral communication. Also see speech impairment .
Source:ADAM
Date:April 22, 2008
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a language disorder is an impairment in comprehension use of the spoken, written, or other symbol system. Speech disorders affect the language and mechanics, the content of speech, or the function of language in communication.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Speech disorders are characterized by a difficulty in producing normal speech patterns. Children go through many stages of speech production while they are learning to communicate.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Treatment for the improvement or cure of communication disorders, including both speech problems and language disorders. Formerly referred to as speech therapy, the techniques, strategies, and interventions designed to improve or correct communication disorders are known as speech-language pathology.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence