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 |