What You Need to Know: Symptoms of Concussion

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• Diffuse axonal injury affects nerve fibers, which can lead to a  disruption in nerve communication — affecting a person's physical and cognitive abilities. Understanding Diffuse Axonal Injury
• Learn the basic signs and symptoms of a brain injury from loss of consciousness to changes in behavior. Basic Signs and Symptoms of TBI
• Learn the common and not so common symptoms of concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury. Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King, BrainLine.

  See all content with Dr. Gillett.

  What Are the Symptoms of Concussion, Especially in Children?
• Oftentimes a child sustains a TBI but her CT or MRI scan shows nothing. If symptoms persist, seek out a specialist.
  
  Transcript of this video. What to Do If Your Child's Symptoms Are Not Abating
• Concussions can be subtle and often invisible. That's why coaches, parents, and teammates need to have a high index of suspicion.

  See more videos with Dr. Julian Bailes.

  High Index of Concussion Suspicion Needed on the Sidelines
• The medical definition of  "concussion" needs be quantitative and non-static. It also needs to have clinical utility. See more of Dr. Ghajar's videos here. Dr. Jamshid Ghajar: Complex Project to Define Concussion
• Concussions have been around since the beginning of time, but our knowledge and treatment of them are and need to be vastly different. It all starts with the need for one, sound definition. See more of Dr. Ghajar's videos here. Dr. Jamshid Ghajar: Multiple Definitions of Concussion
• Educate everyone involved about concussion — from the player and his parents to the coach and the teammates. Importance of Concussion Education

Just like people, every brain injury is unique. In fact, healthcare professionals in the field of brain injury often say, “If you’ve seen one brain injury, you’ve seen one brain injury.” Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Most signs or symptoms are evident soon after the traumatic event, while you may only become aware of others days or weeks later.

The following are the most common signs and symptoms of a TBI:

General

• Headaches or neck pain that do not go away
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions
• Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading
• Getting lost or easily confused
• Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation
• Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason)
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping)
• Light-headedness, dizziness, or loss of balance
• Urge to vomit (nausea)
• Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Ringing in the ears

Children

Children with a brain injury can have the same symptoms as adults, but it is often harder for them to share how they feel. Call your child’s doctor if they have had a blow to the head and you notice any of these symptoms:

• Tiredness or listlessness
• Irritability or crankiness (will not stop crying or cannot be consoled)
• Changes in eating (will not eat or nurse)
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Changes in the way the child plays
• Changes in performance at school
• Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
• Loss of balance or unsteady walking
• Vomiting

Sometimes adults and children complain of “just not feeling like themselves.”

Most people make a good recovery from a concussion, but it’s important to take what may seem like just a bump on the head seriously. If you or a loved one notices any of the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention right away.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• http://www.brainline.org/content/2008/07/signs-and-symptoms.html
• http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/05/heads-up-to-schools-know-your-abcs.html
• http://www.brainline.org/content/2009/06/facts-about-concussion-and-brain-injury.html

Model Systems of Knowledge Translation Center

• http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/03/cognitive-problems-after-traumatic-brain-injury.html
• http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/03/sleep-and-traumatic-brain-injury.html
• http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/03/emotional-problems-after-traumatic-brain-injury.html

The Mayo Clinic

• http://www.brainline.org/content/2008/10/understanding-brain-injury-guide-employers.html
• www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain-injury/DS00552/DSECTION=symptoms