Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWatching For SignsCognitive SymptomsPhysical SymptomsEmotional SymptomsSleep-Related SymptomsChildrenBabiesComplicationsWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Watching For Signs
Cognitive Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Sleep-Related Symptoms
Children
Babies
Complications
When to Seek Medical Care
A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), happens when you take a hit to the head, neck, or body, causing the brain to bounce around within the skull.
Concussion symptomsinclude confusion, drowsiness, nausea, and headache. These might start immediately following an injury, but some symptoms may take days or weeks to appear. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person, depending on age, extent of injury, and through different stages of recovery.
How Long Should You Watch for Signs of a Concussion?
There might not be symptoms right away. Symptoms sometimes start days or weeks later, so you’ll want to be alert to signs for several weeks.Typical recovery timecan also last from days to weeks.During this time, you should still watch for new or worsening symptoms.
Recovery happens in stages. The acute symptomatic stage starts at the time of the injury and goes through the height of symptoms until they start to improve. This usually lasts less than three days.
Once symptoms are improving, you’re in the recovery stage. You feel like your usual self, although symptoms worsen when you overdo it. Recovery is different for everyone. Total recovery time is typically 30 days for those under 18 and 14 days for adults over 18.
You’re fully recovered once you’re free of symptoms and can return to normal activities without issue. Consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions, as the recovery timeline is unique to individuals.
A concussion can affect the way you think and make decisions. Cognitive signs and symptoms of concussion may include:
If you suspect someone has a concussion, ask them simple questions to gauge their response time and whether they can answer correctly.
At first, the physical effects of a concussion may be more evident than cognitive ones, and may include:
A concussion can affect how you process feelings and can cause emotional symptoms such as:
In the aftermath of a head injury, it’s not uncommon to experience sleep disturbances. Concussion is associated with sleep problems such as:
Sleep problems are linked to reduced cognitive functioning, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
Some research suggests poor sleep quality is associated with symptoms lasting six months to four years after the injury. This includes impaired executive function, working memory, information processing, and emotional symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
—BRIGID DWYER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Symptoms in Children
Symptoms in children are much the same as symptoms in adults, including:
Symptoms are usually most severe in the first day or two.Keep an eye out for behavior that’s unusual for your child.
Common Signs in Babies
Infants may have many of the same symptoms as older children. In addition, you might notice:
Even though a concussion is called a “mild” traumatic brain injury, it’s still a serious injury. After a concussion, some people develop persistent symptoms such as:
Known aspost-concussion syndrome, these symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months. Another potential complication is second impact syndrome, a condition in which you get a second concussion before completely recovering from the prior one. The second impact causes acute and potentially fatal brain swelling.
Multiple poorly managed concussions may be linked to conditions such aschronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease, anddementia.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a mild concussion and a life-threatening brain injury. Always contact a healthcare provider if you have a head injury. Prompt evaluation can rule out or confirm thediagnosisand reduce the risk ofbleedingorswellingin the brain,seizures, and other complications.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Signs that you should seek emergency care include:
Summary
A concussion is a type of mild brain injury. It happens when something, such as a head or neck injury, causes the brain to jerk or twist around in the skull. This can cause cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms.
It’s hard to tell the difference between a mild concussion and a serious brain injury. That’s why it’s best to contact a healthcare provider for guidance. Seek emergency treatment for signs such as inability to stay awake, repeated vomiting, or slurred speech. With proper care, most people can recover within a few weeks.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Concussion.University of Michigan Health.Concussion treatment and recovery.Yale Medicine.Concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Saksvik SB, Karaliute M, Kallestad H, et al.The prevalence and stability of sleep-sake disturbance and fatigue throughout the first year after mild traumatic brain injury.J Neurotrauma. 2020 Dec 1;37(23):2528-2541. doi:10.1089/neu.2019.6898Ludwig R, Nelson E, Vaduvathiriyan P, Rippee MA, Siengsukon C.Sleep quality in the chronic stage of concussion is associated with poorer recovery: A systematic review.Journal of Concussion. 2021;5. doi:10.1177/20597002211020881Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Mass General Brigham.Signs of concussion in a child.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.NHS Inform.Concussion.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Concussion.University of Michigan Health.Concussion treatment and recovery.Yale Medicine.Concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Saksvik SB, Karaliute M, Kallestad H, et al.The prevalence and stability of sleep-sake disturbance and fatigue throughout the first year after mild traumatic brain injury.J Neurotrauma. 2020 Dec 1;37(23):2528-2541. doi:10.1089/neu.2019.6898Ludwig R, Nelson E, Vaduvathiriyan P, Rippee MA, Siengsukon C.Sleep quality in the chronic stage of concussion is associated with poorer recovery: A systematic review.Journal of Concussion. 2021;5. doi:10.1177/20597002211020881Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Mass General Brigham.Signs of concussion in a child.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.NHS Inform.Concussion.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Concussion.University of Michigan Health.Concussion treatment and recovery.Yale Medicine.Concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Saksvik SB, Karaliute M, Kallestad H, et al.The prevalence and stability of sleep-sake disturbance and fatigue throughout the first year after mild traumatic brain injury.J Neurotrauma. 2020 Dec 1;37(23):2528-2541. doi:10.1089/neu.2019.6898Ludwig R, Nelson E, Vaduvathiriyan P, Rippee MA, Siengsukon C.Sleep quality in the chronic stage of concussion is associated with poorer recovery: A systematic review.Journal of Concussion. 2021;5. doi:10.1177/20597002211020881Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Mass General Brigham.Signs of concussion in a child.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.NHS Inform.Concussion.
MedlinePlus.Concussion.
University of Michigan Health.Concussion treatment and recovery.
Yale Medicine.Concussion.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.
Saksvik SB, Karaliute M, Kallestad H, et al.The prevalence and stability of sleep-sake disturbance and fatigue throughout the first year after mild traumatic brain injury.J Neurotrauma. 2020 Dec 1;37(23):2528-2541. doi:10.1089/neu.2019.6898
Ludwig R, Nelson E, Vaduvathiriyan P, Rippee MA, Siengsukon C.Sleep quality in the chronic stage of concussion is associated with poorer recovery: A systematic review.Journal of Concussion. 2021;5. doi:10.1177/20597002211020881
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
Mass General Brigham.Signs of concussion in a child.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.
NHS Inform.Concussion.
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