Concussions: What Parents Need to Know

Over the last few years, concussion has become one of the most common diagnoses seen in our sports medicine clinics. Because these injuries occur so frequently in young athletes, it’s important for parents to know how to recognize them and to know what to do if you suspect your child or teenager has suffered a concussion.

A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury, may be caused by a direct blow to the head or neck or by an indirect blow to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth, like a whiplash injury.

Contrary to popular belief, most concussions don’t involve loss of consciousness. And although signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up immediately after an injury, sometimes the symptoms of a concussion may not appear until hours after the injury, or sometimes the following day. As a parent, it’s important to notice changes in how your child or teen is feeling or if symptoms are getting worse, so you can seek medical attention right away if necessary.

The most common initial symptoms of concussion include headache, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, feeling foggy, confused or slowed down and having difficulty remembering. Later symptoms may include problems such as emotional changes or changes in sleep patterns, like sleeping more than usual or difficulty falling asleep. Rapidly worsening headaches, seizures, repeated vomiting or double vision may all be signs of an even more serious injury and parents should seek immediate care if any of these symptoms are present.

If a concussion is suspected during an athletic event, your child should immediately be removed from play and not allowed to return until evaluated and cleared by a medical professional trained in concussion management, such as a physician or certified athletic trainer. Before returning to any contact activity, the athlete should be feeling back to normal and complete a standardized 5-step progression of gradually increasing physical activity (ideally under supervision of an athletic trainer) without developing any symptoms.

The best treatment for concussions in the first 24-48 hours following injury is physical and mental rest. Too much physical activity immediately after a concussion can stress the brain and make symptoms worse and suffering another blow to the head before fully recovering from a concussion can lead to Second Impact Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by swelling in the brain. However, light physical activity such as going for brisk walks, can help with concussion recovery. Kids should also avoid any stimulating technology early on that worsens symptoms, such as computers and video games, and limit TV and cell phone time as needed. Depending on the severity of symptoms, some kids may also need special accommodations at school to help reduce symptoms. Most young athletes will usually recover from a concussion within a few days or weeks. For athletes who suffer from prolonged symptoms or have experienced multiple concussions, it may be necessary to take extended time off from sports or retire from contact sports altogether in some cases.

Concussions can have a serious impact on young children and teens, but having the right information and supports available can help your child recover more effectively. To learn more about concussions and access free resources for your family, download our free concussion guide.