Q: My father was in a minor car accident and has been diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury. While there are obvious changes to me in how he is able to manage his finances and household, all friends and family members that see him occasionally comment how he is the same old guy, and they do not seem to notice any changes. Can you explain this?

A: A mild traumatic brain injury, sometimes referred to as a concussion, is deceitfully referred to as mild in some cases. Some of these “mild” symptoms can include poor attention, memory loss, dizziness, sleep disturbance, depression and fatigue, among others. At a cursory glance, individuals who have suffered a mild TBI can seem the same as they have always been; but digging deeper, changes in personality and cognitive status are apparent to family members and friends who are more closely involved. The impact can be devastating on a family, and these individuals can certainly benefit from a caregiver to assist with tasks that were previously done with ease, such as basic household chores, balancing a checkbook, or medication management.