Children are notorious for getting bumps and bruises from falling, tripping, playing sports and other accidents that occur on a regular basis. Most of the time they will pick themselves up and move on, but if they hit their head, special precautions should be taken. Even if consciousness was not lost it’s possible they could have experienced a concussion, which could lead to several functionality issues in the future. How are you to know whether or not a child has suffered from this type of traumatic brain injury? The key is to monitor them closely using the information below.
Symptoms of a Concussion
There are many symptoms that can present themselves after a concussion is sustained, starting with those listed below. If you notice any of these, then go to an emergency room right away.
– Vomiting
– Extreme Headache
– Loss of Consciousness
– Confusion
– Extreme Sleepiness
– Seizures
– One Pupil Larger than the Other
– Slurred Speech
Other symptoms that may present themselves 1-3 days after the injury occurred include:
– Nausea
– Dizziness
– Trouble Sleeping
– Trouble Concentrating
– Blurred Vision
– Trouble Making Decisions
Where to Turn for Help
Many parents make the mistake of stopping concussion care after a visit to the hospital. At most they’ll tell their child to rest for a few days as prescribed by the doctor and will assume everything is fine after that. Unfortunately, what they don’t realize is that concussions can continue to cause damage years after the initial injury, leading to issues with everything from learning to speaking. This is why it’s so important to extend concussion care with an alternative care provider who focuses on long-term rehabilitation for traumatic brain injuries.
Functional neurologists will help you learn more about the extent of the concussion and whether or not long-term rehabilitation is necessary. They’ll determine this by doing extensive testing and examinations of the brain that everyday medical doctors don’t offer. This testing may be more than what most people are used to, but it’s necessary to pinpoint the exact areas that were damaged. Once they have analyzed the results they’ll know how the concussion affected the child specifically and which brain-based therapies can help rehabilitate the brain to better health.
What if Everything Seems Fine?
It’s no secret that the brain is incredibly strong and powerful, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get hurt. During a traumatic brain injury it can hit the inside of the skull and that can greatly damage the cells that are responsible for helping a child learn, think and function in general. This damage can grow over time, which is why it’s so important to see a care provider, like a functional wellness practitioner, for help even without any symptoms. They’ll take the time to do comprehensive brain testing to determine whether or not damage is present so you have all the information you need.