Concussions and other brain injuries are on the rise. Would you know if your child had concussion symptoms? Here’s some advice on recognizing the symptoms and how they can be treated.
Rates of concussion among sports players have doubled in the last decade and national sport organizations are taking a much greater interest in the cause and effects of this injury. This article provides a brief synopsis of the current thinking in terms of how to recognize the symptoms of Concussion, especially in children and how at Harmonized Brain Centers we can help.
According to The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) concussion is described as “A clinical
syndrome characterized by immediate and transient alteration in brain function, including alteration of mental status and level of consciousness, resulting from mechanical force or trauma.”
Inevitably when huge amounts of publicity are given to such a problem reactions from parents and those close to children who may suffer a concussion, can cause an overreaction.
Outdated and popular misconceptions about concussion
A recent report by UCLA found that many parents “rely on outdated and popular misconceptions about concussion treatments that could make a child’s Concussion symptoms worse”.
It seems parents have gone from downplaying the significance of Concussion to becoming so oversensitive that they can obstruct or slow down a child’s recovery from such an injury.
The report quotes instances of parents “waking up children several times during the night following a knock on the head to see if they are okay”. Potentially this can slow down the healing process in the brain. Some parents claim they would restrict any further physical activity after a concussion, when evidence shows that some light exercise can actually help.
So how can you recognize if someone has suffered a concussion? The Center for Disease Control provides the following checklists
Symptoms Observed:
Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.Appears dazed or stunned.Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent.Moves clumsily.Answers questions slowly.Loses consciousness (even briefly).Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.
Concussion Symptoms Reported:
Headache or “pressure” in head.Nausea or vomiting.Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.Bothered by light or noise.Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.
Signs and symptoms generally show up soon after the injury. However, you may not know how serious the injury is at first and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. For example, in the first few minutes your child or teen might be a little confused or a bit dazed, but an hour later your child might not be able to remember how he or she got hurt.
Check out this video by a satisfied client: https://youtu.be/UDGmfSQfWiY
How the Harmonized Brain Centers can help with Concussions
At the Harmonized Brain Center we work with many clients who have suffered brain injuries. (Some that happened many years ago). We specialize in LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback Systems) therapy and have been very successful in helping our clients with concussion type injuries, from mild to severe. LENS Therapy works at a deep subconscious level, breaking the cycle of concussion and post-traumatic symptoms. With LENS we can help the brain self- regulate and operate as efficiently as the brain can be. LENS Therapy gives the brain the tools to move past traumatic events – without having to talk about them, explore them, or relive them.
The LENS treatment is non-invasive, involves no drugs and takes just a few minutes for each session. With over 400 LENS centers worldwide and over 25 years in development LENS Neurofeedback has achieved success rates of over 90%.
Sports Concussion Statistics:
3,800,000 concussions reported in 2012, double what was reported in 2002
33% of all sports concussions happen at practice
47% of all reported sports concussions occur during high school football
1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season
33% of high school athletes who have a sports concussion report two or more in the same year
90% of most diagnosed concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness
An estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a traumatic brain injury-related disability (CDC)
Concussion Rates per Sport: The below numbers indicate the amount of sports concussions taking place per 100,000 athletic exposures.
Football: 64 -76.8
Boys’ ice hockey: 54
Girl’s soccer: 33 and
Boys’ lacrosse: 40 – 46.6
Girls’ lacrosse: 31 – 35
Boys’ soccer: 19 – 19.2
At the Harmonized Brain Centers we believe A Harmonized Brain Equals A Harmonized Life. Give us a call in Colorado Springs, CO. @ 719-661-6422 or in Nashville, TN. @ 615 331-8762.