Many have come to see us here at The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi after seeing family members or close friends suffer traumatic brain injuries. If you have had to endure a similar ordeal, then you likely share the same thought process. Your concerns in the immediate aftermath of such an accident are not on what sort of legal recourse might be available, but rather to what extent you can expect your loved ones to recover. While each individual injury case is different, there are certain clinical indicators that might offer an idea of what your family member or friend’s long-term outlook may be.
Clinicians employ an observation test known as the Glasgow Coma Scale to test the responsiveness of TBI victims. This test measures three separate response components:
- Eyes opening
- Speech
- Motor skills
The better that your family member or friend responds to this external stimuli, the better their prognosis will be. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a numerical score is assigned to each response category (1-4 for visual response, 1-5 for verbal, and 1-6 for motor, respectively). The combined results from each of those three categories produces your loved one’s final score. A score above 13 indicates a mild brain injury, above nine a moderate one, and any score below seven a severe TBI.
Once you understand their prognosis, you can then develop an idea of what your loved one’ss future needs may be. Recovery from a mild or moderate TBI is possible (although ongoing therapy may be required to help your family member or friend deal with any lingering effects). A severe brain injury may leave them requiring around-the-clock care for the rest of their lives.
You can find more information on dealing with severe injuries throughout our site.