If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a crash, you’ve likely already been told that TBIs can have a wide range of effects on a person. The symptoms someone suffers depends largely on what part of the brain was injured.
Some people, in addition to physical symptoms like headaches, vision problems and balance and movement issues suffer what’s widely referred to (at least by non-medical professionals) as “personality changes.” However, this can be a misnomer.
A personality change brings to mind someone going from a gregarious, outgoing person to one who is quiet and shy or vice-versa. While that may occur, the changes can be far more serious and disruptive to a TBI victim’s life – and the lives of everyone around them.
What does the frontal lobe affect?
The frontal lobe of our brain is, according to the Cleveland Clinic, “home to areas that manage thinking, emotions, personality, judgment, self-control, muscle control and movements, memory storage and more.”
A frontal lobe injury can impair someone’s ability to empathize with others. They can become egocentric and appear narcissistic. Frontal lobe injuries can cause a person to become more irritable, quick to anger and even physically aggressive.
While these are outward and noticeable changes, a frontal lobe TBI can cause other changes that can affect a person’s emotional health. They may suffer from depression or what’s called a “flat affect,” where they don’t express emotions the way others do.
Those who don’t study the brain can easily minimize changes that aren’t readily apparent. However, that doesn’t mean they’re any less detrimental to a person’s ability to work, maintain relationships or even go about their daily lives.
Proper treatment and therapy can help, but the effects of these changes can and should be a consideration if you’re seeking compensation from an at-fault driver. Being able to provide medical evidence from your doctors and therapists will be necessary. Having experienced guidance is especially important to getting the compensation to which you’re entitled.
