Oregon citizens diagnosed with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) know that the effect on them is not mild. When Oregonians suffer head injuries, too often, it takes time to properly diagnose their brain injury. Then, they have to fight for insurance benefits for the treatment, services, and money they need. Too often insurance claims examiners - and even general doctors - do not understand the problems or believe the injured person. Fortunately, yet another peer-reviewed study supports the truth of what these Oregonians experience.
People with brain injuries suffer from mental fatigue. Even on good days, those with brain injuries often hit a wall. Then, words and concepts begin to wash over them. Things just do not sink in. The brain runs out of gas.
Also, even brain injuries categorized as "mild" result in slower information processing. Think of dial up Internet before high-speed cable.
You can't see this on an x-ray or MRI. Science has not developed the tools to see this process, so the actual mechanism is not 100% understood, even though people with head injuries, their loved ones, and all professionals who help those with brain injuries know the phenomena are real. Although we cannot see it, sophisticated testing is helping us understand what people with traumatic brain injury must endure and cope with.
The December 2009 issue of Brain Injury reports the results of tests to compare those with mild traumatic brain injury, traumatic brain injury, and those without brain injury. The article, Mental fatigue and impaired information processing after mild and moderate traumatic brain injury, reports the testing people for mental fatigue, information processing speed, working memory and attention issues. The results: (1) Those with MTBI or TBI reported statistically significantly more deficits from mental fatigue and related symptoms than those without any BI. (2) People with MTBI or TBI had measurably and significantly decreased information processing speed compared to those without any BI. (3) There was a difference in divided attention, but less so. (4) This study found no difference on working memory.
Study authors: Birgitta Johansson; Peter Berglund; Lars Rnnbck. Journal: Brain Injury, Vol. 23, Issue 13 & 14, 12/2009, pp.1027 - 1040.
Our hope is that as the more and more studies publish, (1) primary care physicians will be quicker to diagnose MTBI, and (2) insurance companies will be more willing to pay for the necessary care. I'm more hopeful about (1) than (2).
Jeff Merrick, Oregon Trial Attorney
503-665-4234
