Understanding the Potential Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
When you’ve had a bump or blow to the head, even if it seems minor, you can start to exhibit behavioral changes, including challenges with your short-term and long-term memory. In some instances, those memory issues can lead to a behavior or condition commonly referred to as confabulation.
What Is Confabulation?
In ordinary usage, a confabulation is simply a discussion or conversation. Within the context of a traumatic brain injury, though, a confabulation is customarily an autobiographical account by someone who has sustained a TBI, where the victim inaccurately remembers his or her own experiences or history. It may take a variety of forms:
- A TBI victim may remember details of an event, but fail to accurately remember when it happened
- Confabulation may involve remembering details that never occurred or that the victim has seen, read or heard about, but never actually experienced.
Because the person engaged in confabulation actually believes what he or she is saying (and what he or she remembers), they can be extremely convincing to people who don’t know them or who would have no way of knowing that the memories aren’t real.
Can Confabulation Be a Side Effect of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Absolutely. Studies show that even a mild TBI can interfere with neural connections and cause a victim to report things that never happened.
Can Confabulation Be Treated?
That depends on the severity of the TBI. However, studies show that some of the characteristics of confabulation can be minimized by taking a few simple steps:
- Don’t ask the person leading questions—it make it too easy for them to agree to things that never happened
- Give the person plenty of time to think about your question or concern, so that he or she has plenty of time to process
- Keep distractions and stress to a minimum
- Verify that the person understands your conversation
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we can help you maximize your recovery from a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio. Let us help make certain you get the care you need after a work-related injury.