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Is Your Child Suffering A Concussion? 5 Signs and Symptoms

October 01, 2018

Concussions are a hot topic today. Scientists are learning more and more each year about what happens to the body with concussions, the healing process, and how important it is to seek early treatment.

When I was growing up, we knew that head hits weren't good, but it wasn't anything really concerning then. If we got hurt, we just got back up and kept going. It didn't matter if it was an accident on the playground or a hit during a game. I have heard so many stories from people about when they were in high school. Stories about how they were throwing up after a hit during a game, and they were put right back into the game. Back then, unfortunately, it's just how it was.

Now there is so much more that we understand about concussions today. We know that pushing through it and ignoring it does more harm than good. This is very important because our children have returned to school and to fall sports and activities. It is always important to know the signs and symptoms of a concussion in order to be on top of your child's health. After all, your child may have one or all of these 5 signs/symptoms, and the signs/symptoms can show up immediately or even start about a week after the injury!

5 Common Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

  1. Loss of Consciousness
  2. Fatigue
  3. Headache
  4. Irritability or Mood Swings
  5. Loss of Balance

Now that we know what they are, let's delve deeper into each of these 5 signs and symptoms.

1. Loss of Consciousness

This can happen with the initial injury, but be aware that this doesn't always happen! Don't rely on this as the main factor in deciding if your child should see a doctor. Your child can still have a concussion without ever losing consciousness. However, if your child does lose consciousness for over 30 seconds, call an ambulance/go straight to the ER.

2. Fatigue

After the injury, is your child really tired all the time or does certain easy tasks like playing on the phone make your child so tired that they need to sleep? If so, this could be a sign of a concussion. I hear so many stories from patients about how hard it is to do simple things like dishes or checking email. It makes them unbelievably groggy and tired.

3. Headache

Headaches can be constant or happen after doing activities like being on the phone/computer or doing homework. Trying to concentrate with a concussion taxes the brain so much that this commonly causes headaches.

4. Irritability or Mood Swings

Is your child's reaction not proportional to the situation? I know what you're thinking, "My child is a teenager... when is their reaction ever proportional!?" Look for mood swings that happen more than usual. Your child may demonstrate increased anger, anxiety, or depression after the injury.

5. Loss of Balance

This includes frequent, seemingly random dizzy spells or motion sickness that didn't happen before. Perhaps your child is now clumsier than usual. After the injury, if your child begins to throw up from these symptoms, then call an ambulance/go straight to the ER.


These are only a few common signs and symptoms of a concussion, but there are many more signs and symptoms. You know your child best. If you feel something is wrong or "off" after an injury, then trust your instincts and see your child's doctor! It is better to be safe than sorry.

If your child is diagnosed with a concussion and are recommended PT, then make an appointment with us. Our therapists at Atlas Therapy will offer comprehensive treatment to aid in your child’s healing.

Stay tuned for some information on fun activities in another blog that will help to aid in your child’s concussion recovery!

Also, be sure to check out our blog for further reading on other interesting and various topics!

Posted in Medical Conditions on Oct 01, 2018