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When a playground mishap left your little one down for the count — or a sports field collision stopped your teen in their tracks — you probably felt instant concern about the knock to the head they just took. You also probably felt relieved when they brushed it off and returned to their activity after a few short moments.
But what if that little “bump on the head” turns out to be something more? It doesn’t take a loss of consciousness or even a direct hit to sustain a concussion. In fact, this mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur with a simple no-contact, whip-like jarring of the neck and head.
At THINK Neurology for Kids, we know that early diagnosis and proper care are key to concussion healing and recovery. This month, our team is shining a spotlight on atypical signs of childhood concussion that every parent should be aware of.
Concussion is a common childhood injury
As one of the most common childhood injuries, concussions account for over half of all emergency room visits among kids and adolescents aged five to 18 years old.
This mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an external force — usually a hit to the body or head in a fall or collision — compels a rapid, back-and-forth head motion. Such a sudden jolt can bounce or twist the brain against the skull, stretching and bruising its nerve cells and blood vessels.
Mild TBIs cause short-term brain dysfunction, but they aren’t life-threatening. Even so, a concussion is always serious: Prompt diagnosis and care are essential for facilitating healing, preventing additional brain strain, and avoiding complications.
Typical concussion signs you might expect
Following an incident that causes a knock or jolt to your child’s head, you might be looking for “classic” concussion symptoms to emerge early on, usually within minutes to hours of their mishap. Typical concussion symptoms include:
- Persistent headache or head pressure
- Bouts of dizziness or lightheadedness
- Disorientation, confusion, or inattention
- Amnesia surrounding the injury event
Fatigue, persistent nausea, and vomiting are other common early signs of a concussion. When you notice any of these symptoms in your child after a head injury, visit our team or head to the emergency room right away.
Be aware of less obvious concussion signs
Not all concussions present severe or telltale symptoms like headaches, nausea, or dizziness. But even when kids don’t complain of head pressure — and you don’t head to the ER right after that bump to the head — your child may still show subtle signs of a mild TBI.
Knowing about “hidden signs” to look for in the hours and days following head trauma or a whiplash-like injury can help you seek timely care for your child. See our team if you notice any of the following:
1. Sudden sleep pattern changes
A common concussion sign that often slips by the parental radar is sleep disruption. If your child suddenly has trouble falling asleep at bedtime, starts sleeping significantly more or less than usual, or seems unusually groggy during the day, a mild TBI is the likely culprit.
2. Unusual irritability or mood swings
Abrupt, uncharacteristic emotional shifts are another subtle sign of brain injury. A child who’s normally calm may become more irritable, easily frustrated, nervous, sad, or overwhelmed — or act less “like themselves” — than usual.
These emotional shifts may lead to behavioral changes like crying or having moody outbursts. Younger kids may seek extra comfort (e.g., ask to be held more often), while older kids may pull away from friends or social activities.
3. Increased sensitivity to light and sound
Sensory overload, or increased sensitivity to normal lighting and environmental sounds, is a frequent effect of brain injury. Your child might squint more than normal outdoors, or complain that indoor lights hurt their eyes.
They may cover their ears, say that their ears are “ringing,” or wince at everyday household noises; they may also withdraw from activities and seek out the quiet darkness of their own room more than usual.
4. Brain fog or slowed responses
Mild TBIs frequently cause mental weariness and “brain fog,” especially with delayed treatment. Your child may seem more distracted than usual, forget instructions, lag in conversations, lose their train of thought, or stare blankly into space more than usual.
5. New or uncharacteristic clumsiness
A noticeable shift in balance, coordination, or stability can also signal a concussion. This symptom may show up as minor unsteadiness, bumping into walls, or veering slightly left or right when walking. Younger children may temporarily lose newly learned motor skills and appear unusually floppy or off-balance.
Suspect a concussion? See our team ASAP
If you suspect your child has a concussion, don’t delay: Schedule an appointment at THINK Neurology for Kids in The Woodlands, Sugar Land, or Houston, Texas, ASAP.
We can assess their brain injury, provide a comprehensive care plan to help them recover, and conduct Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT®) to assess their readiness to resume normal activities once they’ve healed.
Give us a call today: Our team — including Shaun Varghese, MD, Cristina Marchesano, MD, Lorena Herbert, MD, Barbara Kiersz-Mueller, DO, Lauren Weaver, MD, Alicia Walls, MD, Sherwin Oommen, MD, Robby Korah, FNP-C, Jennifer Duchaney, CPNP-PC, Tammy DeLaGarza, FNP-C, and Heather King, CPNP-PC — is here to help.