Today, doctors and researchers are taking concussions in children more seriously. Researchers have found that young brains don’t recover from concussions as quickly as they originally thought. And they’ve found that children’s brains are also more susceptible to second-impact syndrome in which the brain can suffer grievous injury as a result of suffering another blow to the head shortly after a first blow.
The problem remains - kids are still returning to the playing field too quickly after experiencing a head injury. The causes are many - parents may not know any better, athletes may hide their symptoms, and coaches may not be aware of the seriousness of concussions.
According to a report in Time magazine, a study found that from 2005 to 2008, 41% of athletes with concussions returned to the field too soon - and that can make them vulnerable to second-impact syndrome. While the American Academy of Neurology recommends that an athlete whose initial concussion symptoms last longer than 15 minutes be benched until he or she is symptom-free for a week - the study found that 16% of high school football players who lost consciousness during a concussion returned to the field the same day.
Another report in The Oregonian noted that 75 percent of those who experience concussion have problems with memory and cognition up to 36 hours later. Further, girls are more susceptible to concussions than boys, and their symptoms last longer. Female soccer plays have 40 percent more concussions than boys and female basketball players suffer from concussions three times more than boys.
When a person suffers a concussion, his/her brain - a soft organ cushioned by spinal fluid - bangs into his/her skull, causing it to temporarily stop working as it normally does. The person may:
- Pass out
- Be confused
- Feel nauseous or throw up
- Feel dizzy, see stars, have ringing in the ears or blurry vision
- Be clumsy and have difficulty sitting up or walking
- Slur words
- Feel groggy or sluggish
- Be sensitive to light or noise
- Have difficulty concentrating, be confused, repeatedly ask questions or be unable to remember what happened
Coaches on the field should remove the child from the playing field and report the symptoms to the parents. The CDC has a great resource section for coaches located at cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/high_school.html.
Parents should then have their child assessed by a medical professional. It is important to note that these symptoms may not occur immediately after the injury. If the child does experience these symptoms later, the child should see a physician.
The first time someone suffers a concussion, the arteries constrict, and slow blood flow to the brain. This is followed by a defensive infusion of calcium and can result in sluggish behavior and poorer reaction times. Because of that, the player is more susceptible to suffering a second concussion - because they aren’t performing at optimum levels. A second blow to the head could lead to second-impact syndrome.
Parents should also note that some children may suffer from post-concussive syndrome. If you notice these symptoms, your child should see a physician. Symptoms include:
- Changes in child’s cognitive skills, ability to concentrate or remember.
- Changes in sleep patterns - either sleeping too much or unable to sleep
- Headaches
- Lack of interest in usual activities
- Unusual mood swings
- Dizziness, blurred vision, lightheadedness or poor balance
Some schools are now using ImPACT (http://www.impacttest.com). This tool is a Windows-based computer program that can be administered by a team coach or athletic trainer with minimal training. It allows coaches to run a baseline test on athletes at the beginning of the season. If the child suffers a blow to the head, the child can be tested by ImPACT and the results can be compared to the baseline test in order to evaluate the athlete and determine when they can return to the field.
Ultimately - play it safe. You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again, “When in doubt, sit them out.”
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