How to Diagnose TBI

Following an accident or injury, the individual should be evaluated at a hospital. While there, the injured person can expect to receive a complete physical examination, a neurological evaluation and perhaps X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI to look for possible skull fractures. The individual’s degree of consciousness will also be measured using a rating scale like the Glasgow Coma Scale (Trauma.org, 2006). The Glasgow Coma Scale measures the individual’s best eye response, best verbal response, and best motor response. Scores range from 3 (worst) to 15 (best). If needed, more specialized tests like an EEG (electro encephalogram) can be performed to measure brain activity.