Clinically, medical professionals assess TBI by taking a thorough history and completing a neurological examination looking for signs and symptoms of TBI in order to classify it appropriately. A TBI is diagnosed if one or more of the following clinical signs is noted after head trauma:
- A decreased level of consciousness or a loss of consciousness after the injury
- Alterations of mental state (e.g., confusion)
- Post-traumatic amnesia
- Neurological deficits (e.g., loss of balance, slurred speech, visual loss)
- An intracranial lesion
A computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain may be done to check for any head or brain injuries that require neurosurgical intervention.[1]