When a person suffers a brain injury, that person’s injury is classified based on its severity. There are a few different levels that a person may be suffering at based on the well-known Rancho Los Amigos Scale.
What are the worst levels of injury a patient with a brain injury can suffer?
Level 1 injuries are when patients don’t respond to touch or sound. They appear to be sleeping. Level 2 are slightly less severe cases, since they may inconsistently react to stimuli. Their eyes may even open. Level 3 injuries are when patients may be able to respond inconsistently but purposefully. For instance, the patient may turn his head toward a sound but be unable to follow commands or do so in a delayed manner.
What are injury levels that most patients will recover from?
If a patient suffers a brain injury and is rated at level 6 through 10, the patient has a good chance of recovery. While level 6 still leads to patients feeling confused or dealing with memory loss, these patients an also relearn some old skills. Level 7 patients automatically begin following a daily routine, but they may need structure to help with poor memory and minor confusion. Level 8 injuries result in patients being able to relearn skills. These patients can typically drive and participate in social activities, but they may function at a reduced level. Finally, levels 9 and 10 are the best prognosis. Level 9 patients can be irritable because of depression, but they are also able to complete tasks accurately and participate in normal activities for at least two hours at a time. Level 10 patients may feel fatigued or irritable when emotional distress or illness is a concern, but otherwise, they may be able to function relatively normally with minimal periodic breaks.
If your loved one has been hurt and suffered any level of injury while on the job, you may be able to seek compensation for those injuries through workers’ compensation or other means. Our website has more information.