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Identifying the Seriousness of a Child's Concussion- Grade 1

All concussions are cause for concern, but not all concussions are the same. Symptoms can include confusion, headache, concentration problems, mood swings, or sleep difficulties. "Concussions are caused by a blow to the head," says Michael Goodman, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "They can occur when a child falls and during any sport that can involve a collision of the head with another object – be it a head, a ball, or the ground."

To better help parents, teachers, and coaches evaluate the seriousness of a concussion, in 2000 a consensus group of medical and athletic associations developed guidelines to be implemented whenever there is a suspicion of a concussion. In this three part series, we will be illustrating the basic differences between the three different concussion grades; Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3.

Grade 1 Concussion

“With a GRADE 1 concussion, a child has a brief period of confusion and appears dazed without a loss of consciousness. During this time, for example, the child will respond inappropriately to an easy question. The symptoms disappear within 15 minutes.

At the first sign of a concussion, the child should be taken out of the sports game or quit whatever activity he or she is doing. The child should be spoken to twice in a five-minute span to confirm that the child is not experiencing confusion. If no signs of confusion are present, this is a grade 1 concussion. If the child appears to be okay after five minutes, medically they are safe to immediately rejoin the game or activity.

However, if this scenario happens twice in a one-week period, the child should wait one week before resuming any sports or physical activities.”

It is important to note that children are most susceptible to serious brain injuries, so even though your child may feel fine a after a few moments, being overly cautious with your child’s health is always wise.

For more information on the child brain injury and lasting brain injury affects, see:

http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/library/child-brain-injuries-brain-injury-seattle-lawyer-davis-law-group.cfm

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