Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Concussion in Your Child

According to Healthine.org, concussions can happen at any age. A concussion is a brain injury that causes the brain to stop working properly for a while or permanently. Some concussions occur because the athletic activities of children and students are not properly monitored. A vehicle accident or a slip and fall can also cause a childhood concussion.

Concussions in children are especially problematic because children often will not communicate what is troubling them. Children’s brains are still developing, so a childhood concussion can cause severe complications. Furthermore, some of the signs of concussions may not appear for hours or days after the traumatic accident.

Concussions in an infant

A concussion in an infant is particularly worrisome, and difficult to spot. Signs of a concussion in a baby include:

• Crying when the infant’s head is moved
• Unusual sleeping habits
• Vomiting
• A bruise or bump on the baby’s head
• Irritability

Concussion signs in young children (two and under)

While toddlers may be able to communicate a little, making a concussion slightly more easily discovered, parents should be on the lookout for:

• Headaches
• Changes in behavior
• Vomiting
• Unusual amounts of crying
• Lack of interest in activities
• Difficulty sleeping

Concussion signs for children older than two

Parents should question their children and look for signs of:

• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Light and noise sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Confusion about recent events
• Changes in sleep patterns

Other childhood concussion signs include:

• Appearing dazed
• Tiring too easily
• Ringing in the ears
• An inability to say what is bothering them
• Changes in school performance

If a parent suspects a child of any age has a concussion, the best course of action is to see a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will consider giving your child a CT scan or MRI. However, these imaging tests are not conclusive. The physician will also give many other physical and communication tests to determine if your child has a concussion. Older children may have had a computerized baseline concussion test before the injury that their current tests can be compared against. These baseline tests are often required for the child to participate in sports.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago concussion attorneys hold bus drivers, coaches, schools, and others liable if they fail to protect your child or supervise their activities properly to prevent concussions. For help now, please contact us at 312-600-9585 or fill out our contact form . We represent clients on contingency fee basis.