Head Injury

Q. What help can I get with a diagnosis of Head Injury?
A. You can get a copy of Could it be brain injury? A guide for General Practitioners. This fact sheet contains many common symptoms of brain injury and contains a lot of information to help your GP make a diagnosis, this may involve referring you to a specialist, such as a neuropsychologist who can assess your symptoms and see if they are due to damage to your brain or if there may be another cause. You can download the fact sheet from www.headway.org.uk/factsheets.aspx or by contacting the Headway helpline on 0808 8002244 to get a printed copy.
You may also wish to contact Headway at www.headway.org.uk/minor-brain-injury.aspx

Q. What are the long term effects of Head Injury?
A. You can experience shortened temper, depression, or an inability to concentrate. You may experience a variety of post-concussion symptoms from your head injury; these can be hard for a GP to diagnose as symptoms can often have other possible causes.

Q. What should I do when returning home with a Head Injury or with a partner who has had a Head Injury?
A. It is important to make sure the person with the Head Injury is ready to come home. Is there any rehabilitation which could take place as an in-patient or out-patient which your hospital could offer? It is also a good idea to ask your Local Authority's Social Services department for a Health and Social Care Assessment, also known as an Assessment of Need. You can ask the hospital's social worker to start this process or contact the Council directly. This will help you to get support for your individual or family needs.

Q. What help and support can to help me cope with my Head Injury?
A. You may be able to get support in the following ways: home care help; help with shopping; disability equipment; respite breaks and various services from Headway. Headway's services can help to provide vital support during a difficult time and should you be caring for someone with Head Injury you can get information from them about what services and benefits you may be entitled to.
Contact Headway using the Headway helpline on 0808 8002244 or via their website www.headway.org.uk/minor-brain-injury.aspx