In the city of San Luis Obispo, a traumatic brain injury could lead to seizures which are temporary or permanent. Even if a person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury has not yet experienced a seizure, it is a possibility. Any person who has suffered such an injury or is close to someone who has should understand as much about seizures as possible.

Seizures happen to up to 50 percent of people who have had a brain injury. Whether or not someone will experience seizures depends on the severity of the injury and the area of the brain that was affected. When a person has a seizure, they will display one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Stiffening or shaking of the head, body, legs, arms or eyes
  • Staring and unresponsiveness
  • Lip smacking, chewing or fumbling movements
  • Altered senses like strange smells and sounds
  • Hallucinations
  • Dizziness or sudden tiredness
  • An inability to speak or understand when someone else is speaking

The symptoms of a seizure occur quickly. Many seizures only last for a few seconds but can last for as long as 10 minutes. Some people who have seizures are unable to control their bladder or bowels. Others aren’t aware that they are having or have had a seizure. Recovering from a seizure will depend on its severity. It can take seconds to hours for a person to return to “normal” following a seizure.

Anyone who is experiencing seizures as the result of a traumatic brain injury should speak with their doctors about these symptoms as soon as possible in order for the proper treatment to be administered.