Spotlight on Concussion

Spotlight on Concussion

Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury where the brain moves back and fourth or side to side inside the skull.  This can happen from a head bump or body impact.  Numbers of reported and treated concussions have increased in the last decade mostly, researchers believe, because of an awareness and education campaign.  A concussion is an invisible injury, meaning it cannot be seen on MRI, CT or Xray.  Because of this, symptoms may be blamed on other reasons such as laziness or lack of sleep. 

Symptoms can appear right after an injury or they can take days to show up.

There may or may not be loss of consciousness. 

Below is a video link to a concussion

https://youtu.be/Sno_0Jd8GuA

Symptoms 

■ headache ■ nausea ■ lack of energy  ■ dizziness, light-headedness, or a loss of balance ■ blurred or double vision and sensitivity to light ■ increased sensitivity to sounds and or ringing in the ears ■ change in sleep patterns ■ difficulty concentrating  ■ trouble with learning and memory ■ problems with word-finding  ■ easily confused ■ slower in thinking, acting, reading, and speaking ■ easily distracted ■ trouble doing more than one thing at a time ■ lack of organization 

■ mood changes  ■ decreased motivation ■ easily overwhelmed ■ more impulsive ■ withdrawn and wanting to avoid social situations

Mental Stamina 

A concussion can have the greatest affect on mental stamina because the brain has to work harder while it is injured to complete tasks.  Every brain and injury is different, and symptoms can present differently on different days.

How long does it take to get better? 

Most people recover completely from a concussion in a matter of days or weeks, but symptoms can last much longer. Each child is different and recovery happens on their own timeline.

What Do I do if I Suspect My Child has as Concussion?

Contact your child's primary care physician for an evaluation.  Then, contact the school, and when your child's doctor deems it is safe to return to school,  the school will develop a plan based on your child's symptoms and doctor's orders for school participation. Work with your child's doctor on wether it is safe to participate in sports. At the upper grade levels work with the athletic trainer and the school nurse to determine when it is safe to participate in sports.

For more information:

Please visit The Concussion management program of NY state.

The Maine CDC

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