Your first thoughts after hearing that a loved one had suffered a serious car accident or assault in Torrington likely focus on relief that they survived the ordeal. That relief, however, can quickly revert back to concern when you learn that the result of the incident was a traumatic brain injury.
Such is the same scenario that many of our past clients here at The Law Offices of Conti, Levy, Salerno & Antonio, LLC faced. They shared the same concerns about their loved one’s future (specifically the ordeal they now faced due to their injury). Like them, you probably want to know what your loved one’s long-term prognosis may be (as such information will no doubt influence your decisions in the handling of their injury). Such knowledge may be possible thanks to the Glasgow Coma Scale.
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the GCS is a clinical observation test administered to TBI victims that measures the following response categories:
- Their motor skills
- Their verbal responses
- Their eye movement
The hope is that responses will be near the expected clinical baseline. For example, your loved one reacting in response to touch or other external stimuli is a good indication of functioning brain activity.
Clinicians review your loved one’s responses and come up with an overall score to determine the extent of their TBI.
Interpreting a GCS score
The total number of points possible is 15. A score between 13-15 indicates a mild brain injury, 9-12 a moderate one, and eight or below a severe TBI. The likelihood of recovery varies with each classification, yet each type will likely still require your loved one to endure costly treatment.
You can find more information on dealing with catastrophic injuries by continuing to explore our site.
