According to medical professionals, the brain never completely heals after a concussion. Therefore, the cumulative effect of one or more concussions may result of chemical or cellular changes in the brain. These changes could impact an individual’s ability to concentrate or problem solve. They may also be responsible for mood changes that an individual may experience. Each year, approximately 175,000 children are diagnosed with a concussion related to playing sports.
A concussion is defined as an event that causes the brain to physically move back and forth inside of the skull. Children who play sports such as football, rugby or lacrosse are more likely to get a concussion because of the high impact nature of the sport. Concussions cannot be diagnosed by an X-ray or other scans, but they can be diagnosed based on the symptoms that an individual may present with.
Common symptoms include having one pupil that is larger than the other or suffering from persistent drowsiness. An individual may also suffer from seizures, vomiting and nausea in the moments, hours or days after the event occurs. Those who slur their speech or have issues related to memory or concentration may also be showing signs of a concussion. Children who show these symptoms should be monitored carefully and examined by a doctor if they persist or get worse.
Although head injuries are often associated with contact sports, they are also quite often the result of a car accident or a slip and fall. A person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another party may want to have the assistance of a personal injury attorney in seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other applicable damages.