Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion and the Potential Problems They May Pose to the Student
Sign/Symptom | Potential Implications in School |
---|---|
Headache | Most common symptom reported in concussions |
Can distract the student from concentration | |
Can vary throughout the day and may be triggered by various exposures, such as fluorescent lighting, loud noises, and focusing on tasks | |
Dizziness/lightheadedness | May be an indication of injury to vestibular system |
May make standing quickly or walking in crowded environment challenging | |
Often provoked by visual stimulus (rapid movements, videos, etc) | |
Visual symptoms: light sensitivity, double vision, blurry vision | Troubles with various aspects of the school building |
Slide presentations | |
Movies | |
Smart boards | |
Computers | |
Handheld computers (tablets) | |
Artificial lighting | |
Difficulty reading and copying | |
Difficulty paying attention to visual tasks | |
Noise sensitivity | Troubles with various aspects of the school building |
Lunchroom | |
Shop classes | |
Music classes (band/choir) | |
Physical education classes | |
Hallways | |
Organized sports practices | |
Difficulty concentrating or remembering | Challenges learning new tasks and comprehending new materials |
Difficulty with recalling and applying previously learned material | |
Lack of focus in the classroom | |
Troubles with test taking | |
Troubles with standardized testing | |
Reduced ability to take drivers education classes safely | |
Sleep disturbances | Excessive fatigue can hamper memory for new or past learning or ability to attend and focus |
Insufficient sleep can lead to tardiness or excessive absences | |
Difficulty getting to sleep or frequent waking at night may lead to sleeping in class | |
Excessive napping due to fatigue may lead to further disruptions of the sleep cycle |