1. Look for Visible Signs
The most obvious sign is a head wound that is either bleeding or has swollen up. Some head injuries, especially the ones that cause a fracture or more serious damage, can result in bruising or swelling of the face. Some people also experience blood loss from the nose or mouth and changes in the size of the pupils. In most cases, a severe headache follows the injury, and people may complain about stiff necks even if the injury happened in a different area.
2. Pay Attention to Late Symptoms
Some serious head injuries don't leave obvious marks and cannot be assessed or diagnosed until much later. The severity of the symptoms depends not only on the seriousness of the injury, but also on the age of the victim. For example, children are more likely to suffer personality changes and drowsiness. In adults, severe injury often results in nausea, vomiting or confusion. Blurred vision and lack of coordination are also common, although these seem to appear soon after the injury. Some people may lose the ability to taste or smell properly and develop hearing problems.
3. Get a Medical Opinion
Most doctors diagnose a head injury based on the symptoms rather than on any specific test. If you recently suffered an accident and are experiencing any head injury symptoms, doctors are likely to suspect an injury and take precautions. If the wound is large or the symptoms especially severe, X-rays or a CT scan may be ordered to rule out a skull fracture or a brain injury. This is even more important in children, who are prone to developing leptomeningeal cysts (swollen fractures) following a serious injury. Depending on the magnitude and extension of the injury, doctors may order other tests to rule out injury to the neck, spine and chest.
