If an adult experiences an acute, sudden onset of chest pain, most people would say that the decision about whether that person had or is having a heart attack should be made by a doctor, that if you suspect something serious is going on, it should be get it checked out right away by a medical professional, and that no smartphone app or test can - or should - take the doctor's place.
The same is true for concussions, say experts: If a parent, coach, or game official has reason to suspect that a player has suffered a concussion playing sports, it should be checked out right away by a medical professional. No smartphone app or sideline test can diagnose a concussion or determine that no concussion is present. That job needs to be done by a licensed medical provider. End of story.
So, no matter what some may have you think, experts say, parents and coaches need to always keep in mind three things:
A concussion should be suspected on the sports sideline, and the athlete immediately removed from play and not permitted to return the same day, if any of the following signs are observed after a direct or indirect blow to the head:
Concussion Symptoms |
---|
1. Headache (reported as symptom by 94.2% of high school athletes |
2. Nausea (reported by 31.4% of high school athletes) |
3. Vomiting |
4. Balance problems [7] |
5. Dizziness [10] (reported as a symptom by 75.6% of concussed high school athletes) |
6. Fatigue |
7. Trouble falling asleep |
8. Sleeping more than usual |
9. Sleeping less than usual |
10. Drowsiness |
11. Light sensitivity (reported as a symptom by 36.0% of concussed high school athletes)[ |
12. Noise sensitivity |
13. Irritability |
14. Sadness |
15. Nervousness |
16. Feeling more emotional |
17. Numbness or tingling |
18. Feeling slowed down (e.g. slower reaction time [11]) |
19. Feeling mentally "foggy" |
20. Difficulty concentrating [12] (54.8% of concussed high school athletes report this symptom) |
21. Difficulty remembering [12] |
22. Visual problems |
Posted October 5, 2015
Links:
[1] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-signs-symptoms-delayed-onset-more-common-in-children-teens
[2] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/every-state-has-youth-sports-concussion-safety-law
[3] http://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/013ex0pwkx?popover=true
[4] https://momsteam.com/node/150
[5] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/sports-concussion-safety/concussion-recognition-evaluation/maddocks-questions-test-concussion
[6] https://momsteam.com/node/203
[7] https://momsteam.com/node/221
[8] https://momsteam.com/node/215
[9] https://momsteam.com/node/1335
[10] https://momsteam.com/node/4029
[11] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/sideline-dropstick-test-simple-measure-reaction-time-use-in-identifying-possible-sport-related-concussion
[12] https://momsteam.com/node/801
[13] https://momsteam.com/users/dr-rosemarie-scolaro-moser
[14] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-signs-and-symptoms-physical-cognitive-emotional-sleep-related
[15] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/parents-critical-participants-in-recognition-treatment-recovery-concussion