Study: Brain injuries could affect girls differently than boys
A new study discovered that girls may experience different symptoms after incurring a traumatic brain injury than boys.
Recently, a new study concluded that traumatic brain injuries may affect girls differently than boys. According to Time, the researchers surveyed 9,288 students in Ontario who were in grades seven through 12. The girls who reported that they had suffered from a brain injury were more likely to report that they had considered committing suicide and that they had experienced psychological distress. Additionally, the girls who participated were more likely to admit that they had smoked cigarettes and been bullied by others.
Why these variances exist
The students who participated in this study self-reported the brain injury symptoms they had experienced, states Time. For this reason, the researchers were unable to determine what caused the differences in the tragic effects that the boys and girls suffered from. However, the researchers suspect that factors like hormonal differences, cognitive differences and treatment differences, or a combination of these factors, could play a role in these variances.
Brain injury effects are highly variable
Although gender may contribute to the effects brain injury victims suffer from, the Brain Injury Association of America states that the consequences of a TBI often depend on the location, cause and severity of the trauma. Additionally, brain injury victims may suffer from effects that fall into four different categories, which, according to WebMD, include the following:
- Cognitive – those who suffer from a TBI may have a hard time processing information and expressing their thoughts. They may also experience a shortened attention span and have a difficult time understanding others.
- Physical – some of the physical symptoms of brain damage include extreme mental and physical fatigue, sensitivity to light, sleep disorders and slurred speech. Other physical symptoms include persistent headaches, paralysis, seizures and tremors.
- Behavioral – brain injury victims may become abnormally irritable and impatient. They may also become unusually aggressive, deny their disability and experience a reduced tolerance to stress.
- Perceptual – those living with a TBI may experience changes in their vision, hearing or sense of touch. They may also become unable to sense time, experience balance issues and deal with disorders of smell and taste.
To recover from or mitigate these symptoms, brain injury victims may benefit from speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychological support.
Turn to an attorney
After an accident occurs, brain injury victims in Pennsylvania may suffer from different cognitive, physical, behavioral and perceptual consequences for a short period of time or for the rest of their life. Although monetary compensation cannot make up for these consequences, it can help with the financial burden of medical and rehabilitative care. If you incurred a TBI in an accident, reach out to an attorney to determine what compensation may be available to you.
Keywords: TBI, brain, injury, accident