Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can produce serious consequences and new research has revealed that concussions and mild head injuries are much more prevalent than experts once believed. A recent study of youth hockey and football players discovered that many players experience concussions that go undiagnosed. In other cases, young players may either conceal concussions intentionally or may not even realize they have a head injury and continue to play.
Recognize the Symptoms of a Head Injury or Concussion
During sports games and practices, parents and coaches must watch closely for the common signs of a possible concussion, especially after a hard hit or fall. In all other cases, friends and family members should be wary of potential head injuries during any type of physical activity or immediately following any bump on the head or automobile accident. An individual who exhibits one of more of these symptoms, particularly after a fall or other obvious blow to the head, could be suffering from a traumatic brain injury and should be pulled from play or rested and evaluated by a physician as soon as possible:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea / Urge to Vomit
- Lack of Concentration
- Impaired Memory / Confusion
- Trouble Focusing / Concentrating
- Blurred or Obstructed Vision
- Unusual fatigue or urge to sleep
If the injured person loses consciousness or seizes, even for a short time, a severe head injury is possible and an ambulance should be called immediately. Beyond successfully recognizing some of the more obvious symptoms, determining the severity of any brain injury requires professional medical evaluation and treatment.
How to React to Any Potential Head Injury
Concussions are by far the most common form of all traumatic brain injuries, representing about 75 percent of all mild to moderate head injuries among children, adolescents, and young adults. Coaches should immediately bench any youth player suspected of a head injury, even if that player feels he/she can return to play.
A child should not be allowed to resume regular activity until he/she is evaluated by a qualified medical professional. In addition, a child should rest and be kept away from computers and video games to allow the brain sufficient time to heal. Whether the potentially injured person is a child or adult, he/she should seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
In cases of more serious head injuries, the symptoms are often immediate and more obvious:
- Vomits repeatedly
- Has unequal pupils
- Seems confused or agitated
- Exhibits weakness on one side of the body
- Passes out or is unconscious
- Remains very drowsy or is unable to wake up
- Experiences neck pain after a fall
- Slurs his/her speech or complains of severe vision problems
- Seizes or convulses
The Importance of Medical Treatment for Concussions and Head Injuries
A concussion should be treated as a medical emergency. Deeper damage may exist and a brain injury may be more serious than its initial symptoms may indicate. Trauma specialists and neurologists rely on a few basic screening tools to help assess potential severity of a brain injury. Doctors or other trained medical personnel may begin a traumatic brain injury assessment using some of the following approaches and tests:
- Accident Assessment and Head Injury History Review
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- CT scan (Computerized Tomography)
- MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Victims should not wait for symptoms to persist or worsen. In the case of a child, obtaining an official medical opinion is the safest way to protect a young, developing brain when any type of traumatic injury is possible. New research has linked potential long-term effects and health risks to even one occurrence of an untreated/undiagnosed head injury. If any damage is confirmed, an appropriate treatment plan can begin immediately.
References:
Wake Forest Baptist Health
