Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children and young adults can produce serious consequences in developing brain tissue. Concussions in youth athletes occur more commonly than experts once believed. Recent studies focused on youth hockey and football players have found that some players experience concussions and go undiagnosed – or some athletes conceal concussions.
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.
A higher proportion of youth participation in sports such as football, hockey, cheerleading, and soccer at the pee-wee, junior varsity, and varsity levels has led to a higher rate of ER admissions due to concussions, according to recent studies. However, experts also link more concussion injuries in the ER to improved awareness campaigns – indicating that it’s not that more concussions are occurring on the field; it’s that more concussions are being detected and treated as they occur.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Parents and coaches should understand the common signs of a possible concussion. A player who exhibits one or more of these symptoms, particularly after a hit on the field or obvious blow to the head, may be suffering from a concussion and should be pulled from play and evaluated by a physician as soon as possible:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea / Vomiting
- Lack of Concentration
- Impaired Memory / Confusion
- Trouble Focusing / Concentrating
- Blurry Vision
- Impulsiveness / Vocal Outburst
A child should not be allowed to resume regular activity until they are evaluated by a medical professional. In addition, a child should be made to rest and kept away from computers and video games to allow the brain to heal.
In cases of more serious concussions, the symptoms may be more obvious. It is important to dial 911 if the child:
- 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 vision problems
- Seizes or convulses
TBI Assessment Methodology and Screening Tools
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. Seek immediate medical attention in any case where a child loses consciousness. 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)
A medical assessment should be sought out, even in cases of mild concussions. Victims should not wait for symptoms to persist or worsen. 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 damage is assessed, an appropriate treatment plan can begin almost immediately.
References:
Wake Forest Baptist Health
