What are the symptoms of head injuries?

Head injury symptoms fall along a spectrum. Milder symptoms often reflect a concussion — a temporary disruption of brain function — while a distinct cluster of severe symptoms signals a more serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) or bleeding inside the skull. Knowing which is which helps you act appropriately.

Common Concussion Symptoms

A concussion may cause any combination of the following, and they do not always appear right away:

• Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
• Dizziness or problems with balance
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Blurred or double vision
• Feeling foggy, dazed, or “not right”
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Feeling unusually tired or sluggish

Loss of consciousness is not required for a concussion — most people never black out. A brief moment of confusion, or being unable to recall the impact, still counts.

Cognitive, Emotional, and Sleep Symptoms

Because a head injury affects the brain, symptoms are not just physical. People may notice irritability, sadness, nervousness, or mood changes; sleeping more or less than usual; or trouble falling asleep. These can surface in the days after the injury and are easy to overlook.

Dangerous Warning Signs of a Serious Brain Injury

These symptoms suggest bleeding or swelling and are a medical emergency. Seek care immediately — call 911 for any of them:

• Loss of consciousness
• A headache that keeps getting worse
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures or convulsions
• Increasing confusion, agitation, or unusual behavior
• Slurred speech
• One pupil larger than the other
• Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, or trouble with coordination
• Clear or bloody fluid from the nose or ears
• Not waking up, or being unusually difficult to rouse

Symptoms in Infants and Young Children

Young children cannot describe how they feel, so watch for behavioral clues: persistent crying that will not settle, refusing to eat or nurse, unusual drowsiness, a bulging soft spot on a baby’s head, repeated vomiting, or loss of interest in favorite toys or people. Any of these warrant prompt evaluation.

Why Timing Matters

Some of the most serious symptoms are delayed — a person can seem fine at first and worsen over the next 24-48 hours as pressure builds inside the skull. This is why observation matters even after a seemingly minor injury.

For a complete guide, see our head injuries page. Bellaire ER is open 24/7 at 5302 Bellaire Blvd for walk-in care, or call (713) 660-0001 for guidance.