Some injuries are invisible. A brain injury – unlike a broken leg or a bleeding wound – can’t be seen by the eye but can be devastating, nonetheless. Brain injuries commonly lead to problems with cognition, memory, attention, emotion, and more, while severe brain damage can cause permanent disability, coma, and death. 

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) lead to over 200,000 hospitalizations and 69,000 deaths every year, according to the CDC. Non-traumatic brain injuries (also called acquired brain injuries, or ABIs) result from things like lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins, and medical emergencies like strokes and aneurysms. 

Early diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries are key to improved long-term outcomes, but getting early intervention can be challenging. After all, how do you recognize and diagnose an “invisible” injury?

Here are signs of brain injury to know so you can learn to recognize them in yourself and others and seek immediate medical care.