How Do You Know If You Have a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that temporarily disrupts how your brain functions. Often resulting from a blow to the head or body, concussions can lead to a range of symptoms that affect concentration, memory, balance, mood, and sleep. It’s important to recognize these signs because even though most people recover fully, understanding if you have a concussion is the first step toward proper care and recovery.

It’s crucial to understand that not every bump or blow to the head results in a concussion. However, any impact that causes a change in brain function should be taken seriously. While some concussions cause a brief loss of consciousness, the majority do not, making it even more critical to recognize other, often subtle, symptoms. Falls are a leading cause of concussions, but they are also common in contact sports like football and soccer.

Recognizing the signs of a concussion is vital for ensuring timely and appropriate management. Let’s explore the symptoms and signs that can help you determine if you or someone you know has sustained a concussion.

Spotting the Signs: Concussion Symptoms to Watch For

Concussion symptoms can be diverse and sometimes subtle. They might not appear immediately after the injury, and can evolve over days or even weeks. The hallmark symptoms often involve headache, confusion, and amnesia, particularly forgetting the event that caused the concussion.

Here’s a breakdown of symptoms you might experience after a mild traumatic brain injury:

Physical Symptoms of a Concussion

These are often the most immediately noticeable signs:

Headache: This is a very common symptom, ranging from mild to severe.
Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus): A persistent or intermittent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound.
Nausea and Vomiting: Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up.
Fatigue or Drowsiness: Feeling unusually tired or sleepy, even if you’ve had enough sleep.
Blurred Vision: Difficulty focusing, double vision, or other visual disturbances.

Cognitive and Sensory Symptoms of a Concussion

These symptoms affect your thinking, feeling and awareness:

Confusion or Feeling in a Fog: Difficulty thinking clearly, feeling disoriented or detached from your surroundings.
Amnesia: Memory loss surrounding the event that caused the injury. You might not remember what happened right before, during, or after the impact.
Dizziness or “Seeing Stars”: Feeling lightheaded, unsteady, or experiencing visual disturbances like flashing lights or stars.

Observable Signs of a Concussion

These are symptoms that someone else might notice in a person who has sustained a concussion:

Temporary Loss of Consciousness: Although not always present, even a brief loss of consciousness is a significant sign.
Slurred Speech: Difficulty speaking clearly, words may be mumbled or hard to understand.
Delayed Response to Questions: Appearing slow to answer or understand simple questions.
Dazed Appearance: Looking blank, confused, or glassy-eyed.
Forgetfulness and Repetitive Questioning: Asking the same question repeatedly, indicating short-term memory issues.

It’s important to be aware that some concussion symptoms may not appear right away. Delayed symptoms can emerge hours or even days after the initial injury. These can include:

Concentration and Memory Problems: Difficulty focusing on tasks, remembering new information, or experiencing general mental fogginess.
Irritability and Personality Changes: Becoming easily agitated, more emotional, or experiencing shifts in mood.
Sensitivity to Light and Noise: Finding bright lights or loud noises uncomfortable or overwhelming.
Sleep Disturbances: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping more or less than usual.
Emotional or Depressed Feelings: Experiencing increased sadness, anxiety, or emotional reactivity.
Changes in Taste and Smell: Although less common, some people experience alterations in their sense of taste or smell.

Recognizing Concussion Symptoms in Children

Concussions in infants and toddlers can be particularly challenging to identify since they cannot verbally express how they feel. Parents and caregivers need to be especially observant for behavioral changes. Clues that a child may have a concussion include:

Dazed Appearance: Looking confused or out of it.
Listlessness and Tiring Easily: Appearing unusually sluggish, lacking energy, or tiring more quickly than normal.
Irritability and Crankiness: Becoming more fussy, easily upset, or generally irritable.
Loss of Balance and Unsteady Walking: Having difficulty with balance or coordination, stumbling, or walking unsteadily.
Excessive Crying: Crying more than usual or being inconsolable.
Changes in Eating or Sleeping Patterns: Eating significantly more or less than usual, or changes in their typical sleep schedule.
Lack of Interest in Favorite Toys: Showing reduced interest in playing or engaging with toys they normally enjoy.
Vomiting: Throwing up, especially more than once, can be a concerning sign in children.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Concussion

It is always best to err on the side of caution when dealing with potential head injuries.

Schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional within 1 to 2 days if:

You or your child experiences any head injury, even if you are unsure if it is serious or if emergency care seems necessary. It’s important to get checked out to rule out any serious complications and receive guidance on recovery.
Children and adolescents should be evaluated by a healthcare professional specifically trained in managing pediatric concussions. Their developing brains are more vulnerable, and specialized care is essential.

Seek Emergency Care Immediately if an adult or child experiences a head injury and any of the following danger signs:

Repeated Vomiting or Nausea: Persistent vomiting or nausea, especially if forceful or worsening.
Loss of Consciousness Lasting Longer Than 30 Seconds: Prolonged unconsciousness after a head injury is a serious indicator.
Headache That Gets Worse Over Time: A headache that steadily intensifies rather than improving.
Fluid or Blood Draining From the Nose or Ears: This could indicate a skull fracture and requires immediate medical attention.
Vision or Eye Changes: Pupils becoming larger than usual, unequal in size, or any other visual disturbances.
Ringing in the Ears That Doesn’t Go Away: Persistent tinnitus that is not improving.
Weakness in the Arms or Legs: Sudden weakness or numbness in limbs can signal a more severe brain injury.
Changes in Behavior: Unusual or erratic behavior, confusion, agitation, or significant personality changes.
Confusion or Disorientation: Not recognizing people or places, feeling lost or severely confused.
Slurred Speech or Other Speech Changes: Difficulty speaking clearly, worsening slurring, or inability to find words.
Obvious Changes to Mental Function: Any significant decline in thinking, understanding, or cognitive abilities.
Changes in Physical Coordination: Stumbling, clumsiness, balance problems, or difficulty walking.
Seizures or Convulsions: Uncontrolled shaking or jerking movements.
Dizziness That Doesn’t Go Away or Returns: Persistent dizziness or vertigo, especially if it subsides and then returns.
Symptoms That Worsen Over Time: Any concussion symptom that is progressively getting worse.
Large Head Bumps or Bruises: Significant swelling or bruising on the head, particularly around the eyes (“raccoon eyes”) or behind the ears (“Battle’s sign”). These are especially concerning in infants under 12 months old.

Alt text: Diagram illustrating different types of concussion injuries and the areas of the brain potentially affected by each type of impact.

Causes and Risk Factors of Concussions

Concussions are caused by a force that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth within the skull. This can happen due to:

Direct Blows to the Head: Impacts from falls, sports injuries, assaults, or accidents.
Whiplash Injuries: Sudden acceleration and deceleration, common in car accidents, causing the brain to strike the inside of the skull.
Blast Waves: Explosions, particularly in military combat situations, can generate forces that cause concussions.

Certain factors increase the risk of concussion, including:

Participation in Contact Sports: Football, hockey, soccer, boxing, and rugby have a higher incidence of concussions.
Lack of Protective Gear: Not wearing helmets during activities like biking, skiing, or contact sports.
History of Previous Concussions: Individuals who have had a concussion are at a higher risk of experiencing another one.
Age: Young children and older adults are more prone to falls, a major cause of concussions.

Preventing Concussions

While concussions cannot always be prevented, taking precautions can significantly reduce the risk:

Wear Helmets: Use appropriate helmets during sports, biking, skating, and other high-risk activities. Ensure helmets fit properly and are in good condition.
Buckle Up: Always wear seatbelts when driving or riding in a vehicle.
Make Homes Safe: Reduce fall risks by keeping homes well-lit, removing tripping hazards, and installing safety features like handrails.
Child Safety Measures: Use stair gates and window guards to protect young children from falls.
Regular Exercise: Improve balance and leg strength through regular exercise, especially for older adults.
Education and Awareness: Educate athletes, coaches, parents, and others about concussion risks, symptoms, and prevention strategies.

Conclusion: Knowing When to Seek Help

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a concussion is crucial for ensuring prompt and appropriate care. If you suspect that you or someone you know has a concussion, it’s essential to seek medical advice. While most people recover fully from a concussion with proper rest and management, early diagnosis and guidance from a healthcare professional are key to a safe and effective recovery. Don’t hesitate to seek medical attention if you are concerned about a potential concussion, as timely intervention can prevent potential complications and ensure the best possible outcome.