Concussion Assessment & Treatment
Concussions are fairly common when playing many sports, particularly football, soccer, and lacrosse. While injuries occur most often after a blow to the head, they can also happen from a blow to your neck or body. These blows cause sudden head movements that jar, or shake, the brain.
Immediately following the hit to the head, people can lose consciousness briefly (usually a few minutes or less), or they may simply “see stars,” become confused, or be unable to recall events and experiences (amnesia) that occurred shortly before or soon after the injury.
Most often, the effects of concussion are temporary, brief changes in mental function with minimal damage to the structure of the brain. However, concussions can also have serious effects that damage brain cells and chemicals in the brain, leading to long term symptoms. This is known as Post-Concussive Syndrome. Some of the symptoms of Post-Concussive Syndrome include headache, dizziness, fatigue, inability to concentrate, trouble sleeping, short-term memory problems, difficulty thinking, irritability, depression, and/or anxiety.
It is well known that these symptoms of Post-Concussive Syndrome can disrupt daily, academic, occupational, and/or interpersonal functioning. This is particularly so after repeated incidents of concussion. If you have had a concussion in the past, additional ones may require more time and effort for recovery, and, unfortunately, recovery may not be as complete. In general, children and teens tend to take longer to recover from a concussion than adults.
Each comprehensive evaluation yields a report of findings, complete with review of
If you have had a sport-related concussion, contact your physician in addition to your coaches immediately. Most often, symptoms resolve within 2-3 weeks. Should your symptoms last beyond this time, a neuropsychological evaluation may be warranted.
If an evaluation is indicated, a Powers Ferry licensed psychologist specializing in concussion will look for potential changes in attention, cognition, and emotion following your injury. After your evaluation, the neuropsychologist will coordinate efforts with your physician and school, as needed, to promote the best plan toward recovery from your injury.