Sensitivity to light and sound following minor head injury

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Abstract
Closed head injury (CHI) patients (9) were assessed for sensitivity to light and sound stimuli, within 7-19 days of injury, on both objective and subjective measures. Patients were matched with controls on age, sex, race, socio-economic status and order of test administration. The mean luminance (1366 lx) tolerated by CHI patients was significantly lower (0.01 level by student''s t-test for related samples) than that tolerated by controls (1783 lx). The mean sound intensity tolerated by CHI patients was also lower (82dB) than for controls (94dB), though this difference was not statistically significant. Subjective ratings of sensitivity made by CHI patients after exposure to intense sound and light stimuli, showed no relationship to objective ratings of tolerance. An objective basis for complaints of increased sensitivty, at least to light, following CHI is demonstrated. These findings do not support earlier psychogenic explanations of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) etiology.

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