Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later. Mild traumatic brain injury The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include: Physical symptoms  Headache Nausea or vomiting Fatigue or drowsiness Problems with speech Dizziness or loss of balance  Sensory symptoms  Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell Sensitivity to light or sound  Cognitive, behavioral or mental symptoms  Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented Memory or concentration problems Mood changes or mood swings Feeling depressed or anxious Difficulty sleeping Sleeping more than usual  Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury, as well as these symptoms that may appear within the first hours to days after a head injury: Physical symptoms  Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours Persistent headache or headache that worsens Repeated vomiting or nausea Convulsions or seizures Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears Inability to awaken from sleep Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes Loss of coordination  Cognitive or mental symptoms  Profound confusion Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior Slurred speech Coma and other disorders of consciousness  Children's symptoms Infants and young children with brain injuries might not be able to communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:  Change in eating or nursing habits Unusual or easy irritability Persistent crying and inability to be consoled Change in ability to pay attention Change in sleep habits Seizures Sad or depressed mood Drowsiness Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities 
traumatic brain injury can wide-ranging physical psychological effects  signs symptoms may traumatic event  may days weeks later  mild traumatic brain injury signs symptoms mild traumatic brain injury may include: physical symptoms  headache nausea vomiting fatigue drowsiness problems speech dizziness loss balance  sensory symptoms  sensory problems  blurred vision  ringing ears  bad taste mouth changes ability smell sensitivity light sound  cognitive  behavioral mental symptoms  loss consciousness seconds minutes loss consciousness  state being dazed  confused disoriented memory concentration problems mood changes mood swings feeling depressed anxious difficulty sleeping sleeping usual  moderate severe traumatic brain injuries moderate severe traumatic brain injuries can include signs symptoms mild injury  well symptoms may first hours days head injury: physical symptoms  loss consciousness minutes hours persistent headache headache worsens repeated vomiting nausea convulsions seizures dilation pupils eyes clear fluids draining nose ears inability awaken sleep weakness numbness fingers toes loss coordination  cognitive mental symptoms  profound confusion agitation  combativeness unusual behavior slurred speech coma disorders consciousness  children's symptoms infants young children brain injuries able communicate headaches  sensory problems  confusion similar symptoms  child traumatic brain injury  may observe:  change eating nursing habits unusual easy irritability persistent crying inability consoled change ability pay attention change sleep habits seizures sad depressed mood drowsiness loss interest favorite toys activities 
traumatic brain injury