Concussion Outcomes

The severity of a concussion (traumatic brain injury – TBI) may range from:
Mild Concussion: a brief change in mental status or consciousness

Mild concussions: one indicator is to see if you are doing anything silly

Severe Concussion: An extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury.

When someone is knocked out, they need an evaluation for a concussion

Concussions can cause a wide range of functional short- or long-term changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, or emotions.

• Thinking – memory and reasoning
• Sensation – touch, taste, and smell
• Language  - communication, expression, and understanding
• Emotion – depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness

A concussion can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age

About 75% of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild concussions

Repeated mild concussions occurring over an extended period of time (i.e., months, years) can result in cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits. Repeated mild concussions occurring within a short period of time (i.e., hours, days, or weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal.

General Tips to Help Aid in Concussion Recovery:

• Get lots of rest. Don’t rush back to daily activities such as work or school.
• Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head.
• Ask your health care professional when it’s safe to drive a car, ride a bike, or use heavy equipment, because your ability to react may be slower after a brain injury.
• Take only the drugs your health care professional has approved, and don’t drink alcohol until your health care professional says it’s OK.
• Write things down if you have a hard time remembering.
• You may need help to re-learn skills that were lost. Your health care professional can help arrange for these services