What are the symptoms of a concussion?

You’ve probably had a concussion if you had a head injury that caused you to be:

• Knocked out
• Lose memory before or after a head injury
• Feel dazed or stunned
• “Saw stars”
• “Got the wind knocked out of you”

If you’ve had a concussion, be sure to see your doctor. After a concussion you may have a wide range of disturbing symptoms that can last for days to months:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Memory problems

Remember, the person who has had the concussion may not be a good judge of whether or not he or she is impaired. So if you notice changes in your loved one after being hit on the head, be sure to talk to his or her doctor to provide information about what’s happening.

Signs of a concussion include:

• Confusion, which may last from moments to several minutes
• Headache
• Repeated questioning about what happened
• Temporary memory loss, especially for periods immediately before and after the injury
• Brief loss of consciousness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Speech problems (person is unable to answer questions or obey simple commands)
• Blurred vision or light sensitivity

Symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light, confusion, different-sized pupils, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, slurred speech, slight pressure in the head, memory loss, seeing “stars,” fatigue, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of sadness. (This answer provided for NATA by the Southern Connecticut State University Athletic Training Education Program)