What Kinds of Tests Are Needed to Diagnose a Brain Injury?
Whether you strike your head on the steering wheel during a car accident, slip and fall while shopping at the grocery store, or you are hit in the head by a falling object while working at a construction site, you are at risk of a brain injury. Brain injuries require a correct diagnosis and treatment plan created by a licensed healthcare provider.
After any type of accident, it is crucial to visit a Nashville emergency room or make an appointment with your primary care doctor. The doctor will conduct a physical examination, ask about your symptoms and family health history, and order various tests to determine whether you have suffered a brain injury. Here are six of the tests that they may use to identify and diagnose your brain injury.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
An MRI is a medical imaging test that uses radio waves and magnets to develop images of your brain or any other area of the body. When the doctor orders an MRI to diagnose your brain injury, you will be required to lie inside a machine very still while the magnets and radio waves work together to provide images of anything that looks unusual on your brain, such as a bruise or bleeding. However, keep in mind that a normal MRI scan does not mean that you do not have a brain injury. Instead, this could mean that your brain injury is minor, difficult to see, or the blood or bruising has already gone away.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
A CT scan is another type of imaging test, but it uses X-ray technology to develop images of your brain or any other area of the body. A CT scan is one of the most common types of imaging tests ordered to diagnose a brain injury as it can capture cross-sectional images of the tissues and blood vessels. This gives the doctor a detailed look at what is happening on or around the brain and whether there are any signs of a traumatic brain injury.
Glasgow Coma Scale
A Glasgow Coma Scale is a test that checks your ability to open your eyes, follow commands, move your arms and other limbs, respond verbally, and more. You simply do what the doctor tells you to do or respond to any questions that they ask you. It will give them an idea of whether a traumatic brain injury is present and how severe it is. For example, a score of 13 to 15 means that you have a mild brain injury, a score of 9 to 12 means you have a moderate brain injury, and a score of 8 or below means you have a severe brain injury. This test can also help the doctor decide what type of treatment and rehabilitation you might need based on your communication, eye movements, limb movements, and more.
Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
If you have a traumatic brain injury, there is a good chance that you have swelling around your brain and skull. Therefore, an intracranial pressure monitoring test may be able to help the doctor determine whether any swelling is present, which could show that you have a brain injury. During an intracranial pressure monitoring test, you are put to sleep while a device is inserted into your head to measure the pressure. If the device finds that there is pressure being placed on the brain or skull, you may need immediate surgery to relieve this pressure.
Electroencephalogram
An electroencephalogram measures electrical activity in the brain, aiding in the detection of abnormal brain patterns and the risk of seizures following a brain injury.
Neuropsychological Test
This test assesses cognitive function, memory, and motor skills, helping doctors understand the extent of brain injury and plan appropriate treatment.
What happens if a test indicates that you have a brain injury?
If one of the tests indicates that you have a brain injury, your doctor will create a treatment plan tailored to the specific type of brain injury you have, where it is located, and its severity. Every person’s situation is unique and different, meaning that your treatment plan will likely be different from another individual’s treatment plan. For example, you may need surgery, six months of physical therapy, and an in-home caregiver to help you around the clock, while another person may only need one month of rest and three months of physical therapy. Therefore, to ensure that you receive the appropriate care and treatment based on your needs, it is critical to get tested for a brain injury as soon as possible.
After any accident where you hit your head, or where your head is thrown back and forth, you should seek medical attention. Make sure to tell your doctor the facts so he or she can order the right tests. Once you’ve sought medical attention, though, your next step should be seeking legal attention. The Nashville brain injury lawyers from Rocky McElhaney Law Firm are experienced and skilled in standing up and fighting for accident victims’ right to compensation, and we will happily do the same for you. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free consultation in Nashville, East Nashville, Hendersonville, Clarksville, or Murfreesboro today.