What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?
The signs of concussion vary and may be difficult to detect. For example athletes may:
- appear normal apart from appearing vacant, dazed or stunned
- be disoriented and unable to recall team plays, scores, who the opponent is or be disoriented in terms of place and time
- ask repeatedly about what happened or what the score is; amnesia is common
- have difficulty concentrating and answering specific questions.
Loss of consciousness, seizure or balance difficulties are clear signs that an athlete has sustained a significant injury. Urgent medical support is critical in these circumstances. In some instances, it will be obvious that there has been a significant injury where the athlete loses consciousness, has a seizure or has significant balance difficulties.
Symptoms of concussion can be very subtle and may present as nothing more than the athlete reporting that they do not ‘feel right’. Concussed athletes often report these symptoms:
- visual disturbance
- feeling ‘foggy’, lethargic or slow
- having sensitivity to light or noise
- feeling dizzy or nauseous
- headache.
Parents and teachers need to be alert for evidence that an athlete is behaving unusually or out of character, exhibits signs of disorientation, clumsiness or loss of balance.
Critical symptoms/signs | Obvious symptoms/signs | Subtle symptoms/signs |
|---|
- Neck pain
- Increasing confusion, agitation or irritability
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizure or convulsion
- Weakness or tingling/burning in the arms or legs
- Deteriorating conscious state
- Severe or increasing headache
- Unusual behavioural change
- Double vision
| - Loss of consciousness
- No protective action in fall to ground directly observed or on video
- Seizure or jerky movements after a knock
- Confusion, disorientation
- Memory impairment
- Unsteady on feet or balance problems
- Athlete reports significant, new or progressive concussion symptoms
- Dazed or looking blank/vacant
- Changed behaviour – may be more irritable, agitated, anxious or emotional than normal
| - Headache
- ‘Pressure in the head’
- Neck pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling slowed down
- Feeling like ‘in a fog’
- ‘Don’t feel right’
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty remembering
- Fatigue or low energy
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- More emotional
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Nervous or anxious
- Trouble falling asleep (if applicable)
|
If an athlete displays these symptoms/signs they may have a more serious injury. They should be immediately taken to the nearest emergency department. |