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Concussion 101: What you should know

As school sports practices start up soon, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of concussions. A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury....
ConcussionScreening1

As school sports practices start up soon, it's important to be aware of the dangers of concussions. A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Mani Seetharama, of the Hartford HealthCare Rehab Network joined FOX 61 Good Day Connecticut to talk about the injury and shared these points:

Symptoms of a concussion:

  • Dazed or confused after your injury
  • Lost consciousness (knocked out)
  • Can’t remember what happened for a short time before or after your injury
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Stumbling or clumsiness
  • Disorientation
  • Double or fuzzy vision
  • Headache
  • Unusual drowsiness
  • Slurred Speech
  • The effects of a concussion can be serious.

What causes a concussion?

  • A direct blow or jolt to the head, face or neck.
  • Could result from a fall, a tackle in a contact sport, assault, vehicle accident, walking or running into an obstacle, skateboarding, snowboarding, explosion…and the list goes on.
  • Most concussions can be prevented.

When should you take a child out of a game if you think he/she has had a concussion?

  • After a hard blow/head injury/neck injury

The Concussion Clinic is multi-disciplinary  including speech pathologists, physical therapists, clinical psychologists, as well as physiatry. The comprehensive evaluation includes:

  • History of injury
  • Symptoms
  • Checklists of physical characteristics (sleep, cognition, risk factors)
  • Objective concussion test measurements
  • Follow-up action plan
  • Return-to-sports/play instructions
  • Referral to other specialists if indicated

Recovery from concussion varies. Most people recover completely from a concussion. However, a small percentage will continue to experience one or more symptoms. During recovery, symptoms can interfere with academic performance and limit participation in other activities

Back to School

Students may return to school immediately following a concussion. School staff should be aware of the following possible issues:

Physical

  • Physical and cognitive fatigue
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Headaches
  • Increased fatigue as the day and week progress

Academic

  • Decreased academic achievement
  • Restlessness or difficulty concentrating
  • Short-term memory issues (struggling to learn new information; forgetting instructions; appearing disorganized)
  • Slowed information processing
  • Difficulty understanding concepts

Behavioral

  • Changes in mood
  • Tendency to get upset or emotional easily
  • Social issues
  • Changes in attitude
  • Class coming up to learn about the treatments---

This free educational seminar

  • Wednesday, July 27 | 6 – 7 pm
  • Hosted by: Hospital for Special Care
  • Howey Family Conference Room 2150 Corbin Avenue, New Britain
  • Speakers: Subramani Seetharama, MD
  • Medical Director, Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Network Board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Tim Belliveau, PhD

Psychology Department, Hospital for Special Care

Before You Leave, Check This Out