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Signs and Symptoms of a Mild Concusion

A concussion is a type of brain injury and, as such, even a mild one should be reported to a doctor. A concussion is the most common type of brain injury and is also known as a "Mild Traumatic Brain Injury." Some people who have suffered a concussion may never actually know they have done so.

  1. Drowsiness

    • Altered consciousness refers to any change in a person's awareness as a result of a concussion. This can be any change in mood or other obvious change in personality. Commonly this includes sleepiness. Concussions can also cause mild confusion. If this confusion is persistent, however, then the concussion may be serious. One delayed symptom of a concussion is affected concentration and an inability to focus properly.

    Memory Loss

    • In some rare cases, someone who has suffered a concussion may be affected by memory loss. This is known as amnesia. This amnesia may affect the memory of events that took place shortly before the injury or shortly after. These two types of amnesia are referred to as retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia and can last for a few days.

    Speech

    • Mild concussions can cause speech problems, such as slurred speech. Another effect of a concussion is "word salad," in which the victim says things that don't make sense. This may be random words strung together as though they were a sentence. Similarly, as a result of difficulty concentrating, it may take a long time to formulate answers to questions.

    Headache

    • Concussions are brain injuries, usually as a result of head trauma. As such, a headache is to be expected. Sometimes people will describe this pain as more of a pressure than an actual pain. If the headache or pressure gets more severe over time, then the head injury may be worse than a mild concussion.

    Sensory Changes

    • There are many sensory effects that are caused by a concussion. One of the more common ones is a ringing in the ears. People may also describe seeing stars. Dizziness or vertigo are common sensory effects of a concussion. Some time after suffering a concussion, a person may feel extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Taste and smell may also be affected some time after the concussion itself.

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