Understanding Post Traumatic Amnesia
January 19, 2017
Amnesia is defined as the inability to recall information stored in our brain which is also referred to as loss of memory. Post-Traumatic Amnesia (PTA), on the other hand, is defined as a state of confusion that may occur immediately after a traumatic injury to the brain. PTA is one of the most common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.
The American Congress of Rehabilitation proves the above point by defining mild traumatic brain injury as “A traumatically-induced physiological disruption of brain function, as manifested by at least one of the following: (1) Any period of loss of consciousness; (2) Any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the accident, (3) Any alteration in mental state at the time of the accident (e.g. feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused), and/or (4) Focal neurological deficit(s) which may or may not be transient.
There are two types of PTA: The first one is called retrograde amnesia, which is the loss of memory formed shortly before the traumatic brain injury occurred, while anterograde amnesia is defined as the inability to create new memories or learn new information after the event that caused the brain injury. Anterograde amnesia is associated with a wide variety of degrees of forgetfulness which can have a devastating impact on the person that suffer from it. Some of the most common effects of PTA are[1]:
- Inability to retain new information;
- Recent memories are likely to be lost;
- They may have false recollections which are either invented or made up of genuine memories misplaced in time; and/or
- Constant confusion or disorientation, among others.
This medical condition is one more proof that traumatic brain injuries, even if they are classified as “mild,” can have devastating and life-altering consequences on a person’s life. If you have been injured by another person’s negligence and you feel you may have PTA, we recommend you contact us immediately. Our experienced attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation you are entitled to, and will help you navigate through the complexities of this type of injury cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amnesia/basics/symptoms/con-20033182