How to Tell If Your Child Has a Concussion
Concussions have become a topic of much debate and research in competitive sports due to concerns about their long-term consequences. This is even more of a concern for parents with children who are active in sports from an earlier age.
How Do You Get a Concussion?
A concussion is considered a mild brain injury that occurs when a head impact causes the brain to quickly move back and forth inside the skull. A concussion can injure brain cells and disrupt chemical and hormone release in the brain. These changes can have physical, cognitive, and emotional impacts on someone within seconds, minutes, or hours.
What Are the Signs of a Concussion?
Below are some of the more common signs of a concussion.
- Memory and concentration problems
- Feeling sluggish and foggy
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Changes in vision
- Light sensitivity
- Altered emotional state (emotional, anxious, depressed)
- Altered sleep patterns (insomnia or hypersomnia)
If you suspect that your child has a concussion, it is pivotal they are examined by a physician and physical therapist that is familiar with treating concussions to optimize recovery. OC Sports and Rehab are Concussion Therapy specialists.