Concussions
For complete and up to date information go directly to https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/about/index.html
Concussions are brain injuries
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can create chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damage the brain cells. The injury to the brain can lead to symptoms that may affect how a child thinks, learns, feels, acts, and sleeps.
Signs and Symptoms of Concussion
Key points
- Concussion signs and symptoms may not show up right away.
- Concussion signs can look different depending on the age of your child.
- Seek immediate emergency medical care if your child has any concussion danger signs.
Signs and symptoms
Concussion symptoms are what your child is feeling after the injury. Concussion signs are what you see when your child is experiencing symptoms related to their injury. Experiencing concussion symptoms is part of the normal healing process. Concussion symptoms:12
- Are different for each person
- May change during recovery
- Are most severe right after the injury (usually 1 to 2 days after the injury)
- Differ depending on the age of your child
Keep in mind that concussion signs and symptoms may not show up right away—they may take hours or days to appear or be noticed. Spotting a possible concussion may be harder in young children and some children with disabilities because they may not be able to communicate or express how they feel.34
As a parent or caregiver, you know what's normal for your child and what's not. Monitor your child regularly and watch for changes in how your child acts or feels. If their symptoms get worse, be sure to share this information with their healthcare provider.
Symptoms: What your child may experience or report after a concussion
Physical
- Bothered by light or noise
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Feeling tired, no energy
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting (early on)
- Vision problems
Thinking and remembering
- Attention or concentration problems
- Feeling slowed down
- Foggy or groggy
- Problems with short- or long-term memory
- Trouble thinking clearly
Social or emotional
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Irritability or easily angered
- Feeling more emotional
- Sadness
Sleep
- Sleeping less than usual
- Sleeping more than usual
- Trouble falling asleep
Signs: What to watch for according to your child's age
Infants, toddlers, and pre-school aged children (birth to age 4)A
- Irritability and crying more than usual
- Seeking more comfort than usual, like needing to be held
- Refusing to nurse or eat
- Changes in sleeping patterns, like sleeping more or less than usual
- Not wanting to engage in play or usual activities
- Needing more help than usual
- Showing behavior changes, such as more temper tantrums, sadness, or irritability than usual
- Changes in speech, like speaking more slowly than usual
- Vomiting right after the injury without other causes, such as a virus
- Appearing dazed, confused, and more clumsy than usual or seeming unsteady on their feet
School-aged children and adolescents (ages 5 to 17)A
- Appearing dazed, stunned, or confused about recent events
- Sudden difficulty remembering or concentrating, especially on topics or activities that would otherwise hold their attention
- Answering questions more slowly than usual
- Appearing more clumsy than usual, seeming unsteady on their feet
- Vomiting right after the injury without other causes, such as a virus
- Suddenly slowed reaction times
- Mood, behavior, or personality changes
Concussion danger signs
It can be hard to tell the difference between a possible concussion and a more life-threatening brain injury. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department if you notice any of the following danger signs following a bump, blow, or jolt to the head:
- Convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)
- Not able to recognize people or places
- Repeated nausea or vomiting
- Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Loss of consciousness with increasing drowsiness, inability to wake up, or inability to stay awake
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- One pupil larger than the other or double vision
Concussion danger signs in infants and toddlers
- Any of the signs and symptoms listed above.
- Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled.
- Will not nurse or eat.
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Health and Safety: Concussion
Resources
Concussion Management Recommendations for MSHSL Athletes
MSHSL Concussion CER Module: This video was prepared by the Minnesota State High School League in 2023 for viewing by officials to attain eligible official status. It is nearly identical to the module prepared for MSHSL Coaches.
This video is posted to provide an opportunity for those at Member Schools to view this information.
Coaches, officials or others will NOT receive credit or a certificate for viewing this video. Coaches must watch this module on their MSHSL Dashboard and officials must watch this module in Arbiter to receive credit.
Learning Modules
The NFHS has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. This course highlights the impact of sports-related concussion on athletes, teaches how to recognize a suspected concussion, and provides protocols to manage a suspected concussion with steps to help players return to play safely after a concussion. Free course. Requires Registration. Certificate of Completion.
Concussion for Students, developed in Partnership with the Barrow Neurological Institute, has been designed specifically for students to inform them on how to identify, react to, and prevent concussions. This free course is presented as a social media conversation, showing how four different students learn about concussion in different ways. It includes high school students and medical professionals discussing concussion. The key goal is for students to be able to identify signs and symptoms of a concussion so that they can get immediate help before any further injury can occur. Free course. Requires Registration. Certificate of Completion.