Speaker Nancy Mullen brought professional and personal observations on identifying and treating brain trauma to the attention of Rotarians at this week’s meeting. Commonly referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Post Concussion Syndrome, Mullen said the severity of injuries can be hard to determine. As explained by Mullen, unlike the impact of an acquired condition such as from a stroke, a traumatic injury and its repercussions are the result of head contacts. These are not always severe one-time events but can be the result of incidents that are repetitive. Military incidents and sports contacts are most frequent for these types of injuries. They may also involve something other than a blow to the head such as strangulation or near-drowning incidents where oxygen is deprived to the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, vision distortion, problems with balance, and communication inconsistencies.
Mullen explained that there are a number of misconceptions regarding brain trauma injuries. As an example, Mullen did some comparisons to assumption about concussions. Where most people think such an injury means someone gets knocked out, only 10% of those impacted actually lose consciousness. Most people assume one has a short-term headache, but the headache could last for weeks. And a return to one’s normal routine is expected to happen right away when the reality is a rigid clearance protocol to follow. Mullen shared her experience with a car accident and a three-year recovery process. It went from overcoming an inability to speak to readjusting to soft skills in the workplace.
Mullen encouraged spreading awareness of brain trauma systems so appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Mullen cited possible misdiagnosis with symptoms of dementia in the elderly or not recognizing the cumulated effects of head trauma from incidents going back into childhood as examples.