People in Louisiana may be more likely to display symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if they have a history of traumatic brain injuries. A study that was recently published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that adults with TBI are twice as likely to have ADHD symptoms. Researchers conducted the study between 2011 and 2012 by surveying 3,993 adult Ontario residents over the phone.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 6.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17, or 11 percent of all children, had an ADHD diagnosis in 2011. In 2010, the CDC reported that there were about 2.5 million TBIs sustained alone or combined with other injuries. Other studies have suggested that there is a link between TBI and ADHD.

The lead author of the Canadian study said that many of the known effects of TBI mirror ADHD symptoms, so the results of the study were not surprising. Some of the consequences of TBI are impairment of memory and attention, speech problems, impulsivity and inability to effectively plan and organize. Researchers say that 5.9 percent of the study participants had already been diagnosed with ADHD, and an additional 6.6 percent of the study participants tested positive for ADHD symptoms based on the phone interviews.

Traumatic brain injuries can significantly impact the lives of victims by impairing their ability to function as they once could. In some cases, a TBI may result in victims losing their income as the disability prevents them from working. A lawyer may be able to help a person in this situation to pursue a claim for financial compensation from the parties that were responsible for the head injuries.