A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). It can occur after an impact to your head or after a whiplash-type injury that causes your head and brain to shake quickly back and forth. A concussion results in an altered mental state that may include becoming unconscious.

Anyone can become injured during a fall, car accident, or any other daily activity. If you participate in impact sports such as football or boxing, you have an increased risk of getting a concussion. Concussions are usually not life-threatening, but they can cause serious symptoms that require medical treatment.

A concussion is different from a contusion. A concussion specifically affects your brain, but contusions are bruises. Contusions can occur on your head, but they aren’t typically serious and tend to resolve within several days.

 

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a concussion

Symptoms of a concussion vary depending on both the severity of the injury and the person injured. It’s not true that a loss of consciousness always occurs with a concussion. Some people do experience a loss of consciousness, but others don’t.

It’s important to understand the symptoms you could go through yourself when you’re having a concussion, as well as the signs of someone else having a concussion.

 

Symptoms you may experience:

The signs of a concussion may include:

• memory problems

• confusion

• drowsiness or feeling sluggish

• dizziness

• double vision or blurred vision

• headache

• nausea or vomiting

• sensitivity to light or noise

• balance problems

• slowed reaction to stimuli

The symptoms may begin immediately, or they may not develop for hours, days, weeks, or even months following your injury.

During the recovery period after a concussion, you may experience the following symptoms:

• irritability

• sensitivity to light or noise

• difficulty concentrating

• mild headaches

 

Signs of concussion in a loved one:

In some cases, a friend or loved one might be having a concussion, and they don’t know it. The following are some of the signs to look out for:

• irritability

• balance issues

• loss of coordination

• problems walking

• seizures

• draining of blood or clear fluid from the ears or nose

• unequal pupil size

• abnormal eye movement

• lasting confusion

• slurred speech

• repeated vomiting

• brief loss of consciousness after the injury

• an inability to wake up (also called a coma)

If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms after an injury, seek immediate emergency medical treatment or call 911.

 

Concussion symptoms in babies:

Concussion symptoms can vary in babies. These may not be as noticeable at first since babies don’t exhibit slurred speech, walking difficulties, and other hallmark symptoms that can be exhibited by children and adults.

Some common signs of a concussion in babies include:

• vomiting

• drainage from their mouth, ears, or nose

• irritability

• drowsiness

Rarely, concussions can cause permanent brain damage. While most babies recover from concussions, it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor. Seek immediate medical help if your baby is unconscious.

 

Emergency symptoms: When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you suspect that you or someone else has a concussion. If a concussion occurs during sports practice or a game, tell the athletic coach and go to a doctor.

Concussions may be accompanied by injuries to the spine. If you think a person has a neck or back injury, avoid moving them and call an ambulance for help. If you absolutely must move the person, do so very carefully. You should try to keep the person’s neck and back as stationary as possible. This will avoid causing further damage to the spine.

 

How a concussion is diagnosed:

If a doctor or emergency room visit is necessary, your doctor will begin with questions about how the injury happened and its symptoms. Your doctor might then perform a physical examination to determine what symptoms you have.

In the case of serious symptoms, your doctor may request an MRI scan or a CT scan of your brain to check for serious injuries. In the case of seizures, your doctor may also perform an electroencephalogram, which monitors brain waves.

Some doctors use a special eye test to look for concussions. This test is sometimes used by certified athletic trainers. It’s conducted to assess if any visual changes are related to a concussion. Your doctor may look for changes in pupil size, eye movements, and light sensitivities.