If your child experiences a blow to the head or body and you suspect symptoms of a concussion, immediate evaluation by a medical professional is a must. Although concussion is usually associated with a head injury, a forceful body hit can cause the brain to bounce, twist or move around and hit the hard surface of the skull just like an injury to the head.
Concussion Symptoms in Children
Children can experience physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms related to concussion just like teens and adults. The signs may be subtle or quite obvious, and initial symptoms may be temporary or persistent.
The child may describe experiencing, or you may notice:
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Tiredness or grogginess
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurry or double vision
- Confusion or inability to concentrate
- Memory problems
- Mood or behavior changes
- Sensitivity to noise or sound
- A loss of consciousness
Care after a Concussion
It takes time for the brain to recover after a concussion. Extra rest, both cognitive and physical, may help facilitate healing. It’s very important to guard against a second concussion after an initial one. Under no circumstances should a child return to play or tasks that put her at risk for a second traumatic brain injury until it’s certain the first one has fully healed.
Recovery and Healing
Trauma such as concussion interrupts the function of the brain and the brain-body connection. Rest helps, but the right type of therapeutic support can also be beneficial in facilitating recovery and healing. Functional neurology can help with rehabilitation through therapy that is gentle, effective and drug-free.
A functional neurologist will utilize in-depth testing as part of an evaluation process that determines exactly what functional disruptions have occurred in the brain, and in precisely what areas. Any imbalances or dysfunctions that are identified can be addressed through a very specific, customized plan of care that supports efficient and full rehabilitation.
Brain Based Therapies for Concussion Care
The therapeutic support a functional neurologist provides for pediatric concussion is designed to help children in customized ways. Brain based therapies take advantage of the brain’s ability to form new connections. After determining exactly where support is needed, brain based therapies target those specific areas, stimulating or calming them through various sensory experiences. There is no guesswork involved in this type of care; results are measurable. Symptoms typically fade as function improves, so the child feels better as the result of the rehabilitation process.
If you’d like to take advantage of effective pediatric concussion care that does not involve side-effects, seek out the support of a functional neurologist. It may help your child by facilitating the most complete and swiftest recovery after a concussion, and may even help with symptoms or discomfort that has persisted for weeks or months after an injury.