While individuals of any age can have a concussion, symptoms may vary between adults and children. Parents of children involved in school sports and activities should be aware of the differences. It’s also important to understand that children may be more susceptible to concussion, for a variety of reasons.
Young children may not be as articulate as adults and may be incorrectly assumed to be displaying behavioral issues after an accident when in fact they might be exhibiting symptoms of a minor brain injury. Parents need to weigh behavior against the reality that some children, on the other hand, may exaggerate symptoms in order to not attend school. It’s a tough call but, as a medical professional, I’d rather parents err on the side of caution.
Minor symptoms of concussion in children can include:
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Appearing more tired than usual
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Crankiness
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Excessive crying
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Lack of interest in favorite activities and games
More serious symptoms can include:
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Vomiting
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Headache that continues to worsen
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Changes in speech or physical coordination
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Loss of consciousness
Very young children may be more susceptible to concussion, not only since they may be more active in organized sports, but due to the fact that their brains aren’t fully developed. Their necks are weaker than adults which also can lead to injury.
Parents need to understand that helmets help protect heads and reduce impact, but they won’t always prevent concussion. Also, MRI and CT scans won’t prove concussion and are normally only prescribed to rule out brain bleeds and other severe injuries.
Fortunately, most children diagnosed with a concussion will be able to recover without assistance after a designated period of physical and mental rest. If you believe your child has experienced a head injury (i.e. more than just a light bump on the head) make sure they are thoroughly assessed by a concussion specialist.
