In 2011, Derek Sheely died after collapsing during a collegiate football practice. In the days leading up to his death, the players had to complete a series of drills in which players drove their helmeted heads into other players — a practice that had been prohibited. Despite persistent bleeding from the forehead and Derek noting he “didn’t feel right,” he was not examined for concussion and was returned to practice. He collapsed and died six days later from brain swelling.
Recently, the NCAA and state of Maryland settled a suit with the Sheely family. This suit is yet another to bring to the forefront the dangers of concussions, especially for youth and teen athletes. According to the CDC almost 500,000 kids and teens are treated in the ER annually for sport or recreation-related traumatic brain injuries.
What is a concussion?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines concussions as a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a “bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.” As a result, the brain is stretched or damaged, leading to chemical changes in the brain.
Concussions and Youth Athletes
According to the CDC, children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and can take longer to heal than adults. Concussions symptoms can be more serious in youth because the frontal lobe of the brain continues to develop until the age of 25.
- Recovery time varies by individual — some people recover quickly while others experience symptoms for months.
- It is critical that your child rest, per the physician’s instructions, after a concussion.
- A repeat concussion that occurs after a youth has fully recovered from a previous concussion can increase the chances for long-term health issues.
- Nearly 53% of high school athletes have had a concussion prior to beginning a high school sport and 36% of collegiate athletes have had multiple concussions.
- Athletes who have had a concussion have a greater chance of suffering from another concussion.
Concussion symptoms
Organizations like the CDC and the Sports Concussion Institute are making a big push to improve concussion awareness; both websites are good resources for parents. Often student athletes will try to hide or deny their symptoms because they do not want to sit on the sidelines or miss future games. It is important that coaches and parents be aware of concussion symptoms, check the athlete for a concussion, visit a physician and then enforce a physician’s recommendations.
The CDC notes the following common symptoms of concussion:
Symptoms Observed by Parents and Coaches
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Forgets instructions, confused about an assignment or position, unsure of the game, score, or opponent
- Clumsy
- Answers questions slowly
- Loses consciousness
- Changes in mood, behavior, or personality
- Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall
Symptoms Reported by Children and Teens
- Headache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Poor balance problems
- Dizzy
- Double or blurry vision
- Bothered by light or noise
- Feels sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Confused, or poor concentration/memory
- Not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”
Severe concussion symptoms
- One pupil larger than the other
- Drowsy
- Headache gets worse and does not go away
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Loss of consciousness
Concussion Regulations
The majority of states, including Wisconsin, have enacted concussion regulations designed to protect athletes and grow awareness of concussion prevention. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athlete Association (WIAA) has specific rules concerning concussions.
The WIAA rule: A student who displays symptoms of concussion and/or is rendered unconscious shall not return to practice or competition during the same day. The student shall not return to practice or competition until approved in writing by an appropriate health care professional.
The WIAA also mandates that any athlete with a concussion must be medically cleared by a health-care professional before s/he can return to practice or competition and upon returning the athlete will follow a step-wise protocol that eases them back into activity. If the athlete’s symptoms return, the athlete’s participation is to be reassessed and restricted as necessary.
Today, most high schools have mandatory Baseline Concussion Tests for their athletes. These tests are given prior to the start of the season. In the event of a concussion, the same test is given to the athlete and the before and after scores are compared. The tests measure reaction time, memory, speed of mental processing and executive functioning of the brain. These tests are important because they are unique to each individual and serve as a good means of assessing a student athlete after a concussion. If an athlete does not complete a baseline test prior to the start of the season, his/her post-concussion scores can only be compared to the general population.
What Can You Do?
- Get informed. Visit the CDC Heads Up website, CDC Brain Injury page or the WIAA Concussion information page.
- If you suspect your child has suffered a concussion, visit a physician.
- If your child has suffered a concussion, follow your physician’s instructions. Students often have to stay home from school, limit their academic workload, rest, avoid visual stimulation (including books, tv, video games, cell phones) and limit social activities.
- Have your athlete complete baseline testing.
- Support your school’s concussion awareness, testing, prevention and recovery mandates.
