Kids are constantly on the move and they aren’t always the most coordinated, so injuries are bound to occur. Oftentimes these injuries are quite apparent, as they take the form of a swollen ankle, a scraped knee or a broken forearm, but sometimes they aren’t all that obvious. One such injury that isn’t always easy to spot is a concussion.
Concussions occur when our brain forcefully comes in contact with our skull, which can lead to physical and neurological symptoms if you’re looking carefully. Since these head injuries need to be managed properly, it’s imperative that you learn how to spot the signs of a concussion in your child. Below, we explore some of the symptoms of pediatric concussions, and we talk you through some management strategies.
Signs Of Concussions In Children
Because each child is different and concussions are so unique to the individual, symptoms of a concussion can vary significantly. We’ll touch on some of the more common symptoms that present during a pediatric concussion, but know that the absence of one or more of these symptoms does not mean that your child has avoided a concussion. It’s possible that some symptoms don’t appear or that all symptoms are mild in nature, so you need a keen eye to be able to identify the warning signs of a concussion.
First and foremost, one thing that we tell parents to watch for when they are looking to assess their child’s brain health is for a noticeable change in their demeanor. Again, this is unique to each individual child. If your normally bubbly child has become quiet and reserved, your academic all-star is suddenly having difficulty focusing on their homework or they just don’t seem like themselves all of a sudden, there’s a good chance they are feeling the effects of a concussion or head trauma.
Other specific symptoms that suggest your child may be dealing with a concussion include:
- Fatigue
- Changes in sleep habits
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizziness
- Balance issues
- Confusion/Memory issues
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Headaches
If your child is dealing with any of these symptoms, especially after suffering trauma to their head or neck region, you should treat it as if you’re dealing with a confirmed concussion.
Treating Pediatric Concussions
Similar to their onset, concussion treatment will be unique to the individual. Although we want you to treat it as if your child has a confirmed concussion once you recognize the above symptoms, your best bet is to medically confirm that diagnosis by connecting with a doctor or similar healthcare professional. They will be able to assess your child’s cognitive abilities and may use imaging tests to confirm that a concussion occurred, although imaging is not always needed.
If your child has a medically confirmed concussion, your healthcare professional will walk you through an individualized treatment plan. In many instances, it will call for two distinct phases of treatment, which are broadly classified as rest and return to activity.
- Rest – During the rest phase, you will take it easy. That’s not to say that you will just lay in bed for a week, but you will want to avoid strenuous activity that could exacerbate symptoms. Your doctor will likely recommend some simple activities during this phase, as movement and gentle activity can actually help you heal faster than with rest alone. This period can be as short as 24-48 hours for mild concussions, but may extend much longer for children with more severe head injuries.
- Return To Activity – The second phase of concussion management is focused on helping children return to normal daily activities, like athletics or school. This will involve a gradual reintroduction to physically or mentally stimulating activities so as not to overload the brain during the recovery phase. Besides simply easing back into activities, physical therapy can significantly help with this stage of recovery. A physical therapist can help develop a return to activity plan, develop a safe exercise plan, hone in on specific issues like balance or memory issues and help children continue to progress towards their recovery goals. You may be able to return to normal activities on your own, but it will be much easier to fully and safely return to normal life with the help of a physical therapist.
We have pediatric head specialists on staff at OrthoRehab Specialists, so we’re confident that we can help your child overcome a recent head trauma. For help with diagnosing or treating a new or existing concussion, reach out to our team today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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