Concussions
A concussion is any traumatic brain injury to soft tissue as a result of a violent blow, shake, or spin. With a concussion a patient will experience an impairment of brain functions including thinking, vison, equilibrium, consciousness, and sensory skills. With a concussion, there are functional differences in the brain altering a patient’s ability to perform many every-day functions with no structural damage to the brain.
Signs and Symptoms Reported From Patient
nausea
vomiting
headache
balance impairment
dizziness
double or fuzzy vision
sensitivity to light or noise
feels overall sluggish/groggy/ foggy
memory problems
confusion
a feeling of “pressure in the head”
neck pain
drowsiness
amnesia
low energy
overall sadness
nervousness
anxiety
change in sleep patterns
increases emotions
Signs and Symptoms Reported by Bystanders (parents, athletes, coaches)
appears dazed/stunned
confused about an activity or assignment
forgets plays
unsure of score/ opponent
moves unsteadily
overall slowness
loses consciousness
behavior or personality changes
cannot recall events that happened before the blow to the head or events that happened after the blow
vacant facial expressions
slurred speech
Red Flags of a More Severe Brain Injury
Increasing drowsiness
Vomiting
Increasing headache
Seizure-like activity
Difficulty in arousing
Numbness/tingling of arms or legs
Weakness of arms or legs
Any unusual behavior