Which symptom indicates altered mental status after head trauma?

Which symptom indicates altered mental status after head trauma?

• A. Combativeness
• B. Dizziness
• C. Altered mental status
• D. Hearing loss

Answer: (C)

After head trauma, signs of altered mental status point to the brain being affected. Altered mental status means the person is not behaving or responding normally—confused, disoriented, agitated, slow to respond, or unresponsive. That exact state is what the question is asking for: the symptom that indicates altered mental status is the altered mental status itself. Other symptoms like combativeness, dizziness, or hearing loss can occur with head injury, but they don’t by themselves demonstrate a change in mental status. Combativeness might come from pain or frustration, dizziness is a perceptual issue, and hearing loss is a sensory deficit. When AMS is present, prioritize airway and breathing, monitor circulation, protect the spine, and arrange rapid transport for further evaluation and imaging.

After head trauma, signs of altered mental status point to the brain being affected. Altered mental status means the person is not behaving or responding normally—confused, disoriented, agitated, slow to respond, or unresponsive. That exact state is what the question is asking for: the symptom that indicates altered mental status is the altered mental status itself. Other symptoms like combativeness, dizziness, or hearing loss can occur with head injury, but they don’t by themselves demonstrate a change in mental status. Combativeness might come from pain or frustration, dizziness is a perceptual issue, and hearing loss is a sensory deficit. When AMS is present, prioritize airway and breathing, monitor circulation, protect the spine, and arrange rapid transport for further evaluation and imaging.