We’ve all taken a hit to the head and have gotten a little bump to show for it, but how do you know if you have a concussion? A concussion typically results from a jolt or blow to the head and can be demanding to recover from, so it is essential to know if you’ve received one.
It is also important to know that you do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Many people never “black out” after a head injury, and symptoms can start right away or appear hours or even days later.
Some common symptoms of a concussion that you should watch out for are below.
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What Are Some Typical Signs of a Concussion?
There are various symptoms that may point to a concussion. These include confusion, ringing in the ears, and others listed below. A concussion can result from many kinds of accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions and slip-and-fall accidents.
Concussion symptoms often fall into four main groups: physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms, emotional changes, and sleep disturbances. In addition to confusion and ringing in the ears, a person may feel mentally foggy, have trouble concentrating, forget parts of the event, feel unusually tired, or become sensitive to light or noise.
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Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are potential signs of a concussion. A person may feel sick or throw up immediately after experiencing a concussion or for weeks after the incident. If you are experiencing repeated vomiting or nausea, this is a sign that something serious is afoot, and you should seek emergency medical care.
Dizziness
Dizziness and difficulty with balance also point to a possible concussion. Concussions can create problems with coordination and make a person feel like the room is spinning. Vestibular therapy can help you to address these symptoms.
Sleep Disturbances
Changes in your typical sleeping patterns indicate that you may have suffered a concussion. Sometimes, individuals who sustain a concussion may experience excessive sleepiness or hypersomnia. Other patients may have insomnia and trouble falling asleep.
Seeing Sparkling Lights
If you see stars or flashes, it is critical to seek medical care. This is one of the mild signs of a concussion, but you still need to have a healthcare professional evaluate your symptoms. It usually takes place because of the rapid impact when your skull hits the back of your brain. Essentially, the jolt to your head can trick your brain into seeing twinkling lights.
Some people also notice blurry vision or increased sensitivity to bright light after a concussion. Even if these symptoms seem mild at first, they should still be taken seriously.
Changes in Mood
Feeling down or having other mood or personality changes could point to a possible concussion as well. For example, a person who suffers from a concussion may experience anxiety or depression. They may also be more irritable than usual.
Other emotional symptoms can include sadness, nervousness, and sudden mood swings that were not present before the injury.
Seizures
Suffering from a seizure is another concerning symptom of a concussion. If you experience any type of seizure, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Seizures can occur within a week or even a week after the injury takes place.
Loss of Consciousness
A loss of consciousness is one of the many bad concussion symptoms that you must take care of right away. If someone loses consciousness, even for just a few minutes, you should take them to the emergency room.
However, a person can still have a concussion without ever losing consciousness. That is why it is so important to watch for other physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related symptoms after a blow or jolt to the head or body.
Headaches
Having a headache may also signal that you have experienced a concussion. This may be similar to a migraine with pain in your temple or forehead area. A headache increasing in intensity and not going away signals that you should get immediate medical attention.
When Should You Go to the Emergency Room?
Some concussion symptoms are warning signs of a more serious brain injury and require emergency care right away. Go to the emergency room immediately if you develop a headache that keeps getting worse, repeated vomiting, one pupil that is larger than the other, trouble waking up or staying awake, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, reduced coordination, or fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears.
How Are Concussions Diagnosed?
You may wonder how to check for a concussion after a severe accident, and it can also be helpful to consult a brain injury law firm if negligence may have contributed to your head injury. If you are showing any signs of a concussion, you should have these symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. There are numerous ways that a medical professional may diagnose a concussion. This can include using various tests and tools, such as those below.
Only a healthcare professional can diagnose a concussion. In many cases, a doctor will begin with a neurological exam and cognitive screening before deciding whether imaging is necessary.
Neurodiagnostic Testing
A healthcare professional may want to use neurodiagnostic testing to check for a concussion. One type of neurodiagnostic testing is the EyeBOX, a diagnostic device approved in 2018 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This device tracks your eye movements and calculates a score that indicates the likelihood of a concussion.
Doctors may also perform a neurological exam that checks vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and reflexes. These tests can help identify how the brain is functioning after the injury.
CT Scan
A computed tomography (CT) scan is another way a medical professional may determine that you have a concussion. It is a kind of X-ray and can display any bruising or swelling of the brain. If your doctor suspects that there is bleeding in the brain or a fracture, they may also need to use a CT scan. Additionally, your doctor might order a CT scan if you lost consciousness.
It is important to understand that a concussion itself often does not appear on a CT scan. Instead, doctors usually use this imaging to rule out serious complications such as brain bleeding, swelling, or skull fractures.
MRI Scan
A healthcare provider may also use a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check for a concussion. This kind of scan creates detailed images via magnetic fields and radio waves. An MRI scan helps a physician see whether there is bleeding or swelling in the brain. If you believe you have undergone a concussion, speak with your doctor about whether you may need an MRI.
Like a CT scan, an MRI may be used to look for structural injuries or complications rather than to confirm the concussion itself.
Neuropsychological Tests
You may also need to undergo neuropsychological testing. This can help analyze whether you have experienced any changes in cognitive functioning. A neuropsychologist can analyze cognitive skills, such as reasoning and memory.
Cognitive testing may also evaluate concentration, attention, memory recall, and whether you are feeling mentally slowed down or foggy after the injury.
At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our team is here to fight for you if you have sustained a concussion. We can assist you in setting up appointments with the best possible medical specialists who can help you heal. Our lawyers can aid you in receiving the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for more information.
How Our Knowledgeable Attorneys Can Assist You
Our experienced lawyers at GJEL Accident Attorneys are ready to help you file a claim if you have suffered from a concussion. We can assist you with collecting investigative reports and medical records, negotiating with insurance companies, pursuing a monetary settlement, and—if necessary—taking your case to litigation. Recovering from a concussion can be overwhelming, but we can help you get your life back on track.
Our attorneys are ready to advocate for you and help you recover the compensation for your injuries. Allow us to take care of the details of your claim so that you can focus on healing. For more information, do not hesitate to reach out to our team for a free consultation at 1-866-292-9907 or complete our online form.
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