Which of the following is a long-term non-motor impairment after TBI?

• A. Depression
• B. Balance problems
• C. Seizures
• D. Hearing loss

Answer: (A)

Long-term non-motor impairments after a traumatic brain injury are changes in mood, behavior, or cognition rather than problems with movement or sensation. Depression fits this category because it reflects an emotional state and motivation issues that can persist long after the physical injuries have healed. It’s common after TBI due to a mix of neurochemical changes, brain network disruption, and psychological adjustment to the injury, and it can significantly impact quality of life, sleep, appetite, and social functioning.

Balance problems stem from vestibular and motor coordination systems, which are motor-sensory in nature. Seizures are neurological events arising from abnormal brain activity and are considered a neurological complication. Hearing loss is a sensory impairment affecting the auditory system. All of these are not categorized as long-term non-motor mood disturbances in the same way depression is, making depression the best answer.