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How can it be determined if I have a brain injury?
A: CT Scans and MRIs are helpful in determining whether there has been structural damage to the brain. The present state of technology, however, does not allow us to see everything there is to see in the brain. Even if a CT scan or MRI does show insult to the brain the scans themselves tell us nothing about how this insult is affecting the function of the brain. It is like opening the hood to the engine compartment of the car and seeing that the engine looks like a normal car engine. Looking at the engine, however, gives no indication of how the engine functions.
Special testing administered by a neuropsychologist can help determine if the brain is functioning normally cognitively. Deficits found on testing may well correlate with the areas of trauma found on the CT scans and MRIs.
Recently there have been dramatic improvements in the ability of MRIs to image insult to the brain that were not able to be seen on standard MRIs. They still do not allow the radiologist to see everything that can be seen in the brain but they are a considerable improvement over previous technology. These MRIs are becoming more widely available and no doubt someday will be the standard in brain imaging.
In addition to the foregoing, extensive interviews of people who knew or lived with the brain injured person before and after injury are an invaluable resource. These people can describe the changes they have seen in the functioning of the individual as well as the personality and emotional changes.
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Hazelton Injury Attorneys
P.O. Box 1248
677 Anne St.
Suite B
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Phone: 218-444-4529
Toll Free: 888-711-4529
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