Millions of American kids and teenagers play youth sports, either through school or a youth sports league. Many parents of kids and teens who play football are well aware of the risks for concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs after a blow to the head, or fall during which one hits his or her head. But a new study from the Henry Ford Health System has found that a wide variety of youth sports can cause concussions.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a head injury that occurs after a blow to the head, or after someone falls and hits his or her head. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), concussions can cause:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches, or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Nausea or vomiting, including repeated vomiting
- Balance problems
- Dizziness
- Double or blurred vision
- Sensitivity to noise and/or lights
- A feeling of sluggishness, grogginess, or haziness
- Confusion and/or difficulty concentrating
- Traumatic brain injuries (the CDC reports that 75% of annual TBIs are concussions)
- Brain bleeds that may require emergency surgery
If your child sustains a concussion or shows symptoms of one while practicing a sport or playing in a game or match, he or she should be immediately removed from play and have a sports trainer follow concussion protocol observation. If it’s suspected that your child has a concussion, he or she should be evaluated by a doctor, especially if the blow to the head was accompanied by a loss of consciousness. If it’s determined that your child has a concussion, he or she will need to refrain from any sports activity until cleared by his or her doctor. For kids and teens, recovering from a sports-related concussion can take up to 30 days.
Long Term Effects of Concussions That Cause TBIs
Concussions that result in TBIs are very serious. A TBI can cause your son or daughter to have long term difficulties with:
- Memory and reasoning
- Vision
- Balance
- Language skills
- Emotional regulation and mental health, as TBIs can cause depression, anxiety, aggression, and more
In Which Youth Sports are Concussions Common
Due to NFL and college football headlines, many people think that concussions are really only a risk for football players. But the recent study from the Health System found that concussions are common in a wide variety of other sports, including:
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Cheerleading
- Swimming
- Golf
- Diving
How Some Youth Athletes End Up with Serious or Long Term Side Effects from Concussions
When a youth athlete suffers a blow to the head and proper concussion protocol isn’t followed, the consequences can be severe and even life-threatening. If your son or daughter doesn’t receive proper medical treatment, concussion complications can go undiagnosed and cause long-lasting side effects. Additionally, if your child gets a concussion and is immediately put back into the game or meet, there’s a risk of additional head injury, which can be fatal.
What to Do If Your Child Suffers a Sports-Related Concussion That Wasn’t Properly Handled
As a TBI personal injury attorney who represents many families after a child has sustained a sports-related concussion, I’m extremely knowledgeable about Virginia personal injury law and the responsibilities of school athletics and youth sports organizations when a concussion is suspected – or should have been suspected.
If your son or daughter received a concussion while playing his or her sport and proper protocol wasn’t followed by coaches or sports trainers, you may be able to recover your child’s medical expenses, ongoing medical expenses, and damages for pain and suffering.
I’m here to listen to your story, evaluate the facts of your child’s case, give you my professional opinion as to whether or not you have a viable personal injury claim, and to represent you in making a personal injury claim or in filing a lawsuit on behalf of your injured son or daughter if that becomes necesary. For a free case evaluation, contact my law firm today at (703) 813-6460.