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Concussion is a common childhood injury: A recent National Health Survey found that at least 2.3 million young people in the United States have been diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) at some point. In any given year, concussion is the reason for about half of all ER visits among kids and teens aged five to 18 years old.
Younger children are more likely to get a concussion in a head-jarring fall, while older kids and teens are more likely to sustain a head injury during sports play.
No matter how a concussion injury happens, our team at THINK Neurology for Kids knows that early evaluation, expert care, and ongoing monitoring aren’t just key to an optimized recovery — the right mTBI care strategies can also help prevent long-term complications.
A “typical” concussion injury
A concussion happens when the external force of something like a jarring fall, car accident, or sports collision — with or without a direct hit to the head — causes the brain to bounce or twist inside the skull. This can stretch, bruise, and damage brain cells, nerves, and blood vessels, triggering chemical changes that lead to temporary abnormal brain function.
Common symptoms
Early on, headaches and head pressure, along with nausea or vomiting, are among the most common concussion symptoms. Mild TBIs can also give rise to:
- Physical issues like balance issues, dizziness, fatigue, and vision changes
- Cognitive symptoms, including confusion, forgetfulness, or “brain fog”
- Emotional symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and easy anger
- Sleep-related problems, such as sleeping more or less than normal
Whether they emerge within hours or days of your child’s injury, concussion symptoms are the brain’s way of telling the mind and body to slow down and take it easy so that it can heal.
Treatment strategies
Concussion care involves an initial period of near-total physical and mental rest, followed by a gradual return to activity — backing off if an activity triggers symptoms. Continued follow-up care for new or worsening symptoms is critical.
Recovery timeframe
With prompt diagnosis and care, most kids recover fully from a concussion injury within a month; mild TBIs have a typical 30-90 day “recovery window.”
When concussion effects linger
A traumatic brain injury of any severity — even a so-called “mild” TBI like a concussion — can have long-term effects. This scenario is more likely with:
- More severe concussions
- Repeat concussion injuries
- Delayed diagnosis and care
- Lack of recovery support
- Incomplete brain recovery
- Disregarded follow-up care
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) occurs when symptoms never entirely go away, and instead persist for months, years, or longer.
In some cases, especially in growing kids and teens, acute concussion symptoms do resolve, but other problems emerge months or even years down the line.
Delayed long-term effects may happen as a growing child reaches new developmental milestones, or if chronic neuroinflammation triggers lasting changes in the brain’s immune cells (microglia) or nightly “clean-up” process that cause damage later on.
Long-term concussion effects
In children and adolescents, concussions can cause a lasting impact on emotions, thinking, behavior, and physical health. These issues often emerge as the brain continues developing, with significant effects on school performance and life trajectory.
Cognitive and learning impacts
Enduring concussion effects on executive function can cause difficulties with planning, organization, problem-solving, and easy mental fatigue. Effects on attention and memory can make it harder to concentrate, learn new things, and recall information.
Emotional and behavioral changes
Increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability, and easy frustration are common potential effects following pediatric concussion injuries. Other long-term effects include a higher risk for anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
Physical and sensory problems
Long-term physical effects may include ongoing fatigue, low energy, poor exercise tolerance, changes in balance or coordination, recurrent dizziness, persistent headaches or migraines, and chronic sleep disturbances. Sensory issues often include blurred vision, double vision, or light sensitivity.
Protect your child’s brain health
Minimizing your child’s risk of long-term complications following a concussion comes down to four essentials: Early diagnosis, proper rest and recovery management, decisive follow-up care, and long-term monitoring.
If long-term effects emerge, specialized care can help manage these developmental impacts. Functional vision therapy, neuropsychological testing, cognitive rehabilitation, and physical therapy can all help.
At THINK Neurology for Kids, we use the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT®) to evaluate TBI severity — and to re-evaluate brain health and recovery during follow-up care.
To learn more, schedule an appointment today at THINK Neurology for Kids in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, or San Antonio, Texas.
Our expert team — including Shaun Varghese, MD, Cristina Marchesano, MD, Lorena Herbert, MD, Barbara Kiersz-Mueller, DO, Lauren Weaver, MD, Alicia Walls, MD, Sundeep Mandava, MD, Sherwin Oommen, MD, Robby Korah, FNP-C, Jennifer Duchaney, CPNP-PC, Tammy DeLaGarza, FNP-C, and Heather King, CPNP-PC — is always here to help.