Concussions Affect Many Teens

Concussions among teens may be happening more often than previously thought. One in five U.S. teens playing contact sports report at least one concussion, a new study finds.

And, more than 700 of 13,000 teens interviewed said they experienced more than one concussion.

The study emphasizes the importance of preventing and managing concussions during recovery. It appears in JAMA.

“…Participation in sports is one of the leading causes of concussions among adolescents,” the authors wrote. “…youth involved in contact sports are at an increased risk for sustaining concussions.”

Unfortunately, concussions often occur during sports despite everyone’s best efforts to prevent them. To help athletes recover and return to the game safely, Bon Secours In Motion offers neurocognitive testing before kids start playing.

The ImPACT™ Neurocognitive Test establishes a baseline for athletes. Should they have a concussion during the season, the baseline track their recovery. Athletes return to play when their testing matches the baseline.

Concussion Symptoms

It’s up to athletes, parents and coaches to keep players out of the game if they suspect a concussion. Continuing to play with a concussion causes serious problems. It makes healing take much longer.

There are four categories of concussion symptoms:

Thinking/Remembering: Concussions make it hard for people to concentrate, remember new information and think clearly. They may feel slowed down.
Physical: Headaches, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to noise or light, balance problems and feeling tired are all physical symptoms of a concussion
Emotional/Mood: It’s common for concussions to make teens irritable, sad, more emotional or anxious.
Sleep: Kids may sleep more than normal, less than normal and have trouble falling asleep.

While some symptoms appear immediately, others may not show up for days or months after a head injury. Always consult your heath provider if you think your child has suffered a head injury.

Sources: JAMA news release, federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention