Half of the approximate 7 million non-major head injuries occurring annually in the US are estimated to be caused by motor vehicle accidents (MVA's). These head injuries, although mostly mild, give rise to an assortment of symptoms and events and frequently affect higher levels of cognition and personality. Symptoms include:
- headache
- scalp pain and hypersensitivity
- blurred vision
- balance and coordination impairments
- memory impairment
- language and task handling difficulties
- slowed reaction times
- ringing of in the ears
- reduced attention span and patience
- earlier fatigue and mental stamina
- sleep disturbances
Unfortunately, symptoms continue to persist in some victims leading to a condition known as "Chronic Postconcussion Syndrome". (note: a concussion is a loss of consciousness or lessening of mental processes following a direct or indirect head trauma)
Another interesting point to note is the paradoxicalness of headaches following head trauma. Recent evidence suggests that relatively minor head injuries seem to result in more severe headaches than the more severe head injuries. For more on headaches, see "Headaches".
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