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Concussions Q & A for Parents
What exactly is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild form of brain injury that often results from direct trauma to the head.
It’s not detectable using most modern types of radiologic imaging, such as MRIs and CT scans, so it’s diagnosed based upon a history of head injury and an evaluation of typical signs and symptoms, like dizziness and nausea.
The damage from concussions is usually temporary—for most people, symptoms resolve within a week or two post-injury, although some others may experience them for weeks. Rarely, someone might have symptoms for longer.
Unfortunately, concussions are quite common. Most ER physicians see a few every day. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of traumatic brain injury, including concussions leading to emergency department visits, are on the rise. Contributing to these stats? Sports- and recreation-related injuries in children.
What symptoms should you look out for?
If your child is dazed or confused immediately following a head injury, has difficulty remembering—especially if he’s lost consciousness—he/she likely has a concussion.
And if in the hours or days following a head injury he/she further develops a headache, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, poor balance, fatigue, difficulty concentrating or mood changes, he/she likely has suffered a concussion. Even if children only exhibit a few of these symptoms, they may have one.
Parents know their kids and can often pick up on mood shifts better than healthcare professionals—you may notice that your child is just a little bit off in how he/she’s interacting or processing information. He/she might be more irritable, or just not his normal self. These signs are important to pay attention to.
What should you do if you suspect your child has a concussion?
If your child is playing a sport or participating in an activity and suffers a head injury, take him out of the activity immediately. If you suspect a concussion, it’s wise to get your child evaluated by a healthcare professional shortly after being injured to assist with symptom management and treatment. Children should be fully cleared to return to play before resuming physical activities. The gold standard in concussion management highlights a gradual progression of activities over time.
What is the recommended play progression model?
After a concussion, an athlete should only return to sports practices with the approval and under the supervision of their healthcare provider. Each step typically takes a minimum of 24 hours. It is important for an athlete’s parent(s) and coach(es) to watch for concussion symptoms after each day’s return to sports progression activity.
An athlete should only move to the next step if they do not have any new symptoms at the current step. If an athlete’s symptoms come back or if he or she gets new symptoms, this is a sign that the athlete is pushing too hard. The athlete should stop these activities and the athlete’s medical provider should be contacted. After more rest and no concussion symptoms, the athlete can start at the previous step.