Difference Between Mild and Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2011/03/02 - Updated: 2022/05/20
Topic: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be classified as either mild or severe and include a wide range of symptoms. A TBI isn't always life-threatening or life-changing. If you experience a loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or less, your injury may be diagnosed as mild. Mild traumatic brain injuries are among the most prevalent and are also commonly called concussions.

Introduction

Are there specific symptoms that constitute a traumatic brain injury? Traumatic brain injuries or TBI aren't always detectable after an accident. Sometimes their symptoms won't appear until weeks or months later. A TBI can be classified as either mild or severe and include a wide range of symptoms.

Main Item

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

A TBI isn't always life-threatening or life-changing. If you experience a loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or less, your injury may be diagnosed as mild. Mild traumatic brain injuries are among the most prevalent and are also commonly called concussions. The symptoms and signs of a mild TBI are:

Most of the time, you can recover completely from mild brain injuries with rehabilitation. Even though the symptoms are not life-threatening, they should be taken seriously. If the symptoms are ignored, they could get worse and cause more serious health problems, especially if you suffer a second mild TBI before your recovery is complete.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury is classified as severe when it results in permanent brain damage. A severe TBI will affect you for the rest of your life. A loss of consciousness longer than 30 minutes and for up to 6 hours is one sign you have suffered a severe TBI. While many of the symptoms of a severe brain injury are similar to a mild injury, their extent is much more permanent. This can include:

If you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic brain injury, it is important to know that there are chances of recovery.

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, .

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Citing and References

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Cite This Page: Disabled World. (2011, March 2 - Last revised: 2022, May 20). Difference Between Mild and Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 20, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/health/neurology/tbi/tbi-symptoms.php

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