Study finds irritability long after concussions in veterans is linked to PTSD, chronic pain and hearing difficulties
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New research from the CU Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health shows that irritability is strongly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, chronic pain and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments among military veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion.
Published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the study suggests that post-concussion irritability may reflect a combination of changes in brain function, emotional health and sensory processing rather than a single psychological cause.
Irritability is one of the most commonly reported long-term symptoms after concussion, particularly in veterans with chronic mTBI. It can significantly disrupt work, relationships and social functioning.
"Our findings suggest irritability years after multiple concussions is not simply a psychologically driven emotional reaction," said the study's lead investigator Jeffrey Hebert, Ph.D., PT, associate professor at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine and director of research for the University of Colorado Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health.
"It reflects difficulties managing both psychological and sensory system factors that can persist for years after injury."
The study included 124 military veterans: 61 with chronic mTBI and 63 without any history of brain injury. Participants completed standardized assessments measuring irritability, PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, balance and auditory processing, including speech-in-noise comprehension.
Veterans with chronic mTBI reported higher levels of irritability, more severe PTSD symptoms, greater chronic pain, worse balance and increased difficulty understanding speech in noisy settings compared with those without brain injury.
Researchers found that PTSD symptoms had the strongest association with irritability, followed by chronic pain. Difficulty understanding speech in challenging listening environments also contributed independently, suggesting that sensory strain plays a role in emotional regulation.
The findings are among the first to show that difficulty following conversations in noisy environments may independently contribute to irritability after chronic mTBI.
"When the brain must work harder to understand speech in noisy environments, it increases mental effort and fatigue. Over time, that can reduce stress tolerance and contribute to emotional overload and irritability," said Hebert.
The results also highlight how everyday environments such as restaurants, social gatherings and crowded public spaces may be especially challenging for individuals living with chronic mTBI.
Overall, the study emphasizes that irritability after concussion likely involves multiple interacting systems in the brain and body.
"This work shows the issue cannot be understood through a single lens. Effective care may require addressing PTSD symptoms, chronic pain and sensory processing difficulties together rather than in isolation," said Hebert.
Future research will explore whether improving functional hearing and sensory processing could reduce irritability and enhance quality of life after concussion.
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NeurologyPsychology & Mental healthPsychiatry Provided by University of Colorado Anschutz Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Study finds irritability long after concussions in veterans is linked to PTSD, chronic pain and hearing difficulties (2026, September 17) retrieved 17 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-concussions-veterans-linked-ptsd-chronic.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.