A primer for parents on concussions
August 23rd 2010 01:58
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What is a concussion? It is a head injury caused by a blow, jolt or fall that interferes with normal brain function.
What are symptoms of a concussion?
Headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, blurry or double vision, sensitivity to light and/or noise, lethargy, irritability, inability to concentrate, memory problems, slow reactions.
Does a concussion require a loss of consciousness? No.
What are the long-term risks of concussions? Brain trauma can result in early onset dementias as well as depression, anxiety and personality changes. "All a high school football player cares about is next Friday's game and being out there with his friends," injury epidemiologist Dawn Comstock said. "He doesn't think about the potential of having headaches for his entire career or severe memory loss in his early 40s."
Are youths at greater risk for concussions? Kids are more prone to head injuries and take longer to recover. But when properly managed, most completely recover from concussions.
What is the danger of playing with a concussion? Second-impact syndrome can occur when an athlete who already has suffered a concussion returns to action before symptoms have cleared and suffers another head injury. The second blow can result in a much worse brain injury. "You might not want your son to miss three weeks of football, but you also don't want him to miss algebra, driver's education, SAT prep courses," said Stanley Herring, a Seattle Seahawks team physician. "There are bigger issues here."
What should a parent do? Emphasize the importance to your child about not hiding symptoms. Also, ask questions. Parents should know if coaches are educated in concussion management. Does the school have a policy on how to handle a concussion? Is there a trainer available at practices as well as games? "If your child's school doesn't have mandatory programs where coaches learn about concussions, I would say think twice about sending them there," said concussion advocate Chris Nowinski. "That's not asking a whole lot."
Is football too dangerous? Doctors note that all sports contain an element of risk. But they emphasize that concussion problems can be minimized by education and teaching proper football technique. "Do everything you can possibly do to play the sport technically, correctly, and take the head out of every hit," said Dr. Robert Cantu, a brain injury authority. "Accidental hits to the head are going to happen. But purposeful use of the head in blocking and tackling is wrong."
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