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A concussion is a head injury that happens most often to children. Young children's head sizes are disproportionately large compared to the rest of their body. As children reach adolescence, they experience rapid height and weight growth. Both of these factors make children more prone to accidents than adults.
A concussion or closed head injury may be caused by a sudden fall, jolt or blow to the head. According to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, concussions happen to one million children each year. More than 30,000 of these children incur long-term disabilities as a result of this brain injury.
New research regarding concussions
Although concussions previously were thought to be trivial brain injuries, recent scientific studies have demonstrated that even the most minor concussion can produce serious negative effects on an athlete's concentration, memory, reaction time and emotions, says Laurence Kleiner, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon at The Children's Medical Center of Dayton.
Concussions are often the result of:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Cycling
- Skates, skateboarding, scooters
- Sports: football, soccer, boxing or any contact sport
- Falling
- Violence
A concussion may or may not involve a loss of consciousness and/or amnesia. The child usually is awake, disoriented or confused and may have a headache, nausea and vomiting. The symptoms of a concussion may last days, weeks or longer.
When a concussion happens to a child
An adult should stay with the child for the first 24 hours, monitoring changes in vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, loss of memory or dizziness.
Brain tests (scans) can work to determine the severity of a concussion, but many times they do not show signs of concussions, so it is important to observe the child's behavior after an injury.
Do not give medications to the child without consulting a physician first (avoid aspirin as it may cause bleeding).
Watch for:
- Confusion or if the child is easily distracted and cannot do normal activities
- Stares blankly
- Delayed answering of questions
- Slurred speech
- Stumbling or clumsiness, uncoordinated or cannot walk a straight line
- Cries very easily or becomes angry easily or exhibits extreme emotions
- Problem with memory, repeats self, repeatedly asks questions, unable to recall words or objects
- Loss of consciousness
Other symptoms of a concussion:
- Confusion
- Loss of memory about accident
- Headache
- Nausea
- Difficulty with memory
- Slowed thinking
- Tiredness
- Change in sleep
- Unbalanced
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears
- Increased sensitivity to light or sounds
- Mood changes — sad, irritable, non-motivated
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in ears
Call the doctor or EMT immediately if any of following symptoms appear:
- A headache that will not go away and is severe
- Not waking up; very sleepy
- Seizure
- Repeated vomiting
- Personality change
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness in arms or legs
- Ringing in ears
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights
Younger children may have difficulty communicating how they are feeling. Watch for:
- Listlessness, being overly tired
- Irritability
- Change in sleep or eating patterns
- Change in play
- Change in their school performance (a sudden decline in grades or disruption in school)
- Not interested in toys
- Unsteady walking
- Losing newly learned skills — eg, potty training, reading
Contact your child's physician if you notice any of these symptoms.
Sports and concussions
Children who are involved in sports frequently are victims of concussions. Many of these children continue to play and experience repeat concussions.
"Concussions are a widely recognized sports injury, but they are more common — and subtle — than people might think," says Dr. Kleiner.
Concussions happen frequently among athletes, especially those engaged in contact sports such as football, hockey, rugby, soccer and lacrosse. The incidence of concussion ranges from 10 percent to 50 percent of participants per year. The risk of a repeat concussion is as high as 50 percent per season.
In addition to playing organized sports, active children also are at risk for concussions during recreational activities that include skateboarding, biking and skating.
Post-concussive syndrome has been well validated as a debilitating condition that can affect children, adolescents and young adults who have been repeatedly traumatized during the course of playing sports. Because many people only recognize loss of consciousness as a symptom of concussions, many concussions go dangerously unrecognized.
Dr. Kleiner suggests the following grade scale to determine the best way to deal with a child's concussion:
- Grade 1 — Symptoms are noticeable for less than 15 minutes. Generally, return to play is not recommended until the next day.
- Grade 2 — Symptoms are noticeable for longer than 15 minutes. Generally, clearance by a health care professional is recommended before return to play.
- Grade 3 — Any loss of consciousness. Child needs immediate medical attention.
If a child might have a concussion, it is important for him or her to sit out from play for at least 15 minutes. During this time, the coach can evaluate the child's concussion grade.
Repeat concussions
When a child has suffered from more than one concussion at any point in time, it is known as a repeat concussion. The effects on the brain are more serious than the effects of the first concussion. Other effects of repeat concussions are: symptoms last longer, chronic headaches, slower response rates and decreasing test scores.
From The Children's Medical Center of Dayton.
Comments [53]
I was sitting on a lawn chair that had loose legs and I flipped and landed on my head on concrete.I was out for about 2 or 3 miniutes. My friend called an ambulance and when I got to the hospital they barely even talked to me and sent me home with a concussion. It is 5 days later and my head hurts even worse. My eyes watered a lot for 3 days and they were swollen. Im thinking of going back to Hospital.
my brother was wake boarding and hit his head on the water very hard. he has a massiv head ache and took some pain pills. is that what he should've done?
So I got hit in the head in college soccer game 10 months ago. I have horrible pain in the back of my eyes, HORRIBLE dizziness, horrible pain in the back of my head and upper neck, and i am really sensative to noise. any noise. I have been to 6 docs (3 docs, 1 physical therapist, 1 accupuncture, 1 massage, i chiropractor) and NOTHING. I am suffering every single day. someone PLEASE help.
I was riding on a maul and hit my head very hard i dont know if i have a concussion or not. But my eye is swelling and the area is very tender. What should i do?
I was walking backwards and hit my head on a corner of a wall. the area swelled up and I took some Ibroprofin but it still hurt Its been 2 days and I've had mood swings. I'm not sure if its from my menstraul cycle or what.... I don't think I have one but I need to be sure. Do I have one?
I fell off my horse, I was going over a 1m 30 jump downhill! I did not have time to collect his canter so he was on the wrong leg... anyway he stopped in front of the jump so I tried to turn him around... but unexpectedly he jumped it, he jumped soooo high that I had no idea whatsoever that he wanted to go over it! he bucked when he went over it and I flew up into the air, I landed on my side and rolled quite a lot, I have a bruise on my head and I have had a nonstop headache since the event was over on Saturday! I might have a concussion!
i hit my head last night ona truck i dont exactly remember howq but i think it was getting in it i know i hit extremely hard caused i blacked out for a sec got really tired after words then started vomiting got dizy was and was stumbling from what i do remember i know i cuud barely make it up my stares and my eyes where blood shot but im having alot of the symptons the modd swings the irritability diziness getting tired alot and feeling sick and changing eating habbits should i be concerned?????
My son just fell off his bike a little while ago. He was at a friends house and wasn't wearing a helmet and flipped over the handlebars and said he thinks he hit his head so i dont know if he has a concussion or not.
I have had 8 concussions over the past 5 years. 1 from soccer, 1 accidental, 1 from snowboarding, and 5 from football. While I love the sport, i was forced to quit before my sophomore year. i have made two attempts to come back, thinking i could regain my old form and once again impress college scouts, only to suffer number 6 and 7 in back to back years on some of the first contact i encountered in spring ball. While i enjoy football, and i still love watching the game, i was a washed up football player at 16, and it has cost me much mental and emotional anguish. I dont ever want this for anyone and i strongly suggest everyone to be careful and cautious when playing the game
I hit my head skating, no symptoms, guess im okay
I had a concussion recentally, i was a t pool and slipped busting my head on concrete ground.
I have a concussion because of the following: I was sliding into second base and I banged my head really hard on the ground. My feet were above my head during the accident because the base moved. My pupils weren't dialating, so I was taken to the hospital. I have a headache now,
we were playing tackle football in gym class on the practice field without pads and i was tackled, bounced my head off the ground and got a concussion. i couldn\'t really remember much, but it was intense.
i have had a concussion and my head hurts owww!
o was knocked unconscious for about 2 minutes earlier today in a game of lacrosse, it's hella serious and I advise everyone to, in the words of an acquaintance, "take it seriously"...as I said, mine was a grade 3.
I was jumping my bike over very big gaps and crashed. I dislocated c3 and c6 in my neck and had a severe concussion. I was constantly waking up and passing out so I dont remeber much. I'm only 14 and I have 3 minor 2 major and 1 severe concussion. They hurt.
My son suffered a consussion a few months ago. He hit nhis head skateboarding and was knocked out cold and went in to a seizure. He was lifeflighteed to a hospital 60 miles away from our home. The year prior to this he also had another injury that required staploes to the back of his head. On a recent doctor\'s appointment to the eye doctor my physucan informed me that I should have him tested to determine brain damage done which may occur later on in life steming back to these injuries. He is 13 now, and I know how serious brain injuries can be due to I almost lost my sister to one.
i had 3 concusshions no fun i got them from wrestling and football i did a RKO someone blocked and i hit my shoulder on neck and head and football i fell over my head and the second time i was playing football and me and my cousin banged headsz im only 9 and they hurt
yeah this is true all the symtoms the i get its been 6 month till now that i had a concussion it was a night that i when to a party n after the party was done i was at the hospital dont remember much of the accident but i thing i was hit in my head with a bat or a rock or some dont remember that day but man the filling of the symtoms are so messed up alright u all take care
Okay my name is moriah and i live in ventura. this is my concussion story. I used to be able to type 55 wpm until i fell 5 feet from the ground and hit the base of the back of my head. i was bleeding but did nit need stitches. i was given morphine but the pain was too much for it. it has been 5 days since then. i type about 25 wpm now and this is not fair. what can i do for the pain. nothing is working do you suggest anything?
i fell and hit my head off the floor last night. its still really sore. but some of the symptoms are just normal me, so i cant really tell...
I banged my head last night and spent the whole night trying to keep myself awake. I thought something was wrong but after looking over the symptons I feel much better.
One coccussion ended my 10th grade wretling career
Thanks, this really helped me. My friend made too sharp of a turn too fast in his Dodge Dakota 2006, and I wammed my head against the window, as i was asleep when he turned. This really helped. I have been noticing these signs in myself. Plus, I want to be an EMT, so its good to know these things. ~~~Cynthia from New Jersey.
I have had 8 concussions. which resulted in me having epilepsy. I have also had brain surgery
My son just had a snow boarding concussion. What i remember most was the question of where is this, where is that. For a boy that was basically the organizer of the household! That was the night of the header into the snow ,off a three foot snow ramp. Lucky for us my mother inlaw is a nurse,and came over after a call from my wife.She checked his pupils with a flashlight, relizing this was a serious head injury.He was then transported to the local hospital. There he was immediately admitted to the attending doctor who verbally question my son with some obvious question both historic and present day. After the questins he decided to consult another physicians who after more decussion with my son,keeps him for observation over the next 3 hours. Nothing happen over that time and is released. He,s now at home and is tired. Doctor said little rest been woken every 2 hrs gently.HE has full awareness of everything except the immediate time before the accident and the time he arrived at home. Thank the snowboard GODS. Mur from Canada
this site is the best.. my friend tried to fake a concussion and through this website we found out that he was faking
i had a concussion and i was out of sports and activities for 7 months. all i can say is make sure you take it extremely serious.
this is good info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thankyou this really helped...i always thought that it meant going to sleep then not waking up so thanx
thanks. this really helped because i hit my head against my friend's head and we were playing on the trampoline and my head rebounded and hit a metal part of the trampoline and my mom was worried i had a concussion. i think i do now because i have a horrible head ache that won't go away.
my head really hurts... good advice!
I have had 8 concussions...they absolutly stink, and they are very serious. This information helps!
great information, a year ago i was tumbling and slammed my head into the floor, i guess it was because i was tired but i remember landing in a weird position and getting up and going to lay down and crying myself to sleep after hitting my head. Not the smartest idea, but i thought i had just hit my head nd i would be fine. but, now i know all the info i needed thanks to this article.
MY ONLY WORDS ARE WOW AND SHOCKING.
This is a great article. I hit my head yesterday and have been concerned, but this has helped a lot, so thank you!
i had 3 concussions and i was out for one week of football with one and didnt remeber the day of or after
i've had 4 concussions now. they are no fun.
lol i think the "This is false" comment is refering to the other comment below that says "this is true"
thank you i needed to know this for my lang arts class! now i have what i need! :)
What is false? The comment below or the article? If you are referring to the comment below I agree since there is a reference right below the Title found at the top of the article. If you're referring to the article I disagree since it was taken from factual information. Sorry just got a bit confused by this.
this is false
It's hard to cite this work when there is NO AUTHOR. Just for future don't forget that part.
thank you for the info im doing a report
This is way too long...what if someone didn't already know the signs of a concussion and were to look it up online...the person with the concussion would probly be out for a while before someone could read, or even skim through, this artile.
Thanks for the article. I needed to know the symtoms when I broke my hand and got a concussion.
i was recently hit by a DBIED in iraq, and suffred a concussion, theses tips are exactly right. i show sever sings, and still have my headache. so just follow theses and get to a hospital before you get TBI like i do because of the mulitiple concussions i have
I really appriciate this information and would like more info on what a concussion is and what it actually has done to the brain. My son got one playing football.
concussions put you out for a while in football. just to watch out
this really help of what i have because i got in a car wreak & i have been getting these things
Thanks I needed to know this for when i babysit, and when i got a concussion.
this is true
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i was outside and i did a flip.. well. i hit my head VERY hard on the ground.. i have had a really bad headache for a day.. and its not getting any better... i dont like the light.. and i cant hear loud noises. my stomach has been hurting too.. im not sure if this is a concussion or not. can someone help me?
Jul 30th, 2010 3:24pm