Teenage Concussion
What is Concussion?
A concussion is caused by a wide range of accidents though the majority of concussions in teenagers are as a result of sport.
You might not need to go to hospital/doctor immediately, but it is important to note that signs and
symptoms may appear hours or even days later.
Also there does not need to be loss of consciousness in order to sustain a concussion. The
symptoms that can occur are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. In most cases, the damage is not
permanent but, like any injury, your body needs time to repair this damage.
As a result of concussion some people may experience emotional, behavioural and thinking problems
which can interfere with their lives. Most of these problems resolve within three months. However some
of these symptoms may persist beyond this period. This is known as Post Concussion Syndrome.
Why Teenagers?
Teenagers are far more prone to concussions than adults. But, along with this, teenagers generally have worse symptoms and longer recovery times than adults or even younger children. These longer recovery times occur particularly with teenage girls. Understanding concussions in teenagers is essential because education, prevention, and management after a concussion may lead to improved outcomes, a reduction in the number of further injuries and a faster recovery time.