concussion
Specialists at Dayton Children’s provide expert care for concussions. A concussion is a brain injury that can cause serious complications.
what is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (or mild TBI). It happens when a blow to the head or an injury makes the head move back and forth with a lot of force. This causes chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damage to the brain cells.
Kids and teens who follow their health care provider’s recommendations usually feel better within a few weeks of the concussion.
what are the signs & symptoms of a concussion?
If your child has a concussion, they might have some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Confused about events
- Answers questions slowly
- Repeats questions
- Can’t recall events prior to the hit, bump or fall
- Can’t recall events after the hit, bump or fall
- Loses consciousness (even briefly)
- Shows behavior or personality changes
- Forgets schedule or assignments
Immediate care is essential if your child experiences any of the following concussion symptoms after receiving any kind of blow to the head:
- An intense headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- A change in alertness level
- Extreme sleepiness
- Confusion or agitation
- Slurred speech
- One pupil— the dark part of the eye — that is larger than the other
If you experience any of these symptoms within 24 hours of a head injury, you need to go to the emergency room, even if you felt okay at the time of injury.
non-sports-related concussion
Sometimes, the symptoms of a concussion are not as intense or do not appear until a day or two after the injury. These symptoms can include headache, irritability, difficulty concentrating and excessive sleepiness. If your child experiences these symptoms following a non-sports-related injury or is age six or younger, we recommend that you make an appointment with your child’s primary care physician first. If needed, he or she can make a referral to the Dayton Children’s neurology department, and we will schedule an appointment with one of our neurologists as soon as possible.
sports-related concussion
If your child experiences these symptoms following a sports-related injury and is older than six, you can call the Dayton Children’s sports medicine center directly at 937-641-3939 for an appointment.
how are concussions treated?
Each person with a concussion heals at their own pace. It’s important to find a balance between doing too much and too little.
At first, your child needs to cut back on physical activities and those that require a lot of concentration. Then, he or she can start trying these activities again. Symptoms don’t have to be completely gone for your child to add activities. But if symptoms interfere with an activity, your child should take a break from it. He or she can try it again after a few minutes or longer, or try a less strenuous version of the activity.
Treatment plans are created by healthcare providers to help patients recovery and return to activities safely. For more details, speak with your doctor or learn more about our concussion management program.
If you have additional questions, we’re here for you. Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you.
concussion evaluation
Physicians evaluate concussion symptoms by conducting a thorough exam. In some cases, they may order an imaging test such as a computed tomography (CT) scan. Rest and avoiding physical activity are usually the best medicine for a concussion, but pain relief medication may be prescribed as well. Kids who sustain concussions usually recover within a week or two without lasting health problems. If your child is still having concussion related problems three or more weeks after his/her concussion, we recommend making another appointment with your PMD. A Neurology referral may need to be made at that time.
free baseline concussion testing
If your child is involved in sports, you may want to consider a new, free assessment available at Dayton Children’s. Baseline test measures your child’s cognitive function before a concussion occurs. In the event that your child does get a concussion, scores from the baseline test will help our team measure cognitive changes and know when it is safe for your child to return to their normal activities. Learn more
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