Child Got a Concussion? Here’s What to Do Next

We know you live a busy, full, and exciting life: shuffling kids to and from practices, making sure everyone is fed and on time, and managing everyone’s ever-changing schedules. Injuries are a part of life, but they’re unexpected, and they can derail all the plans you’ve so carefully crafted. One common injury children of all ages can experience is a concussion. According to the CDC’s HEADS UP program, millions of children experience a concussion or brain injury each year.

If your child got a concussion, it’s normal to feel scared and unsure of what to expect. At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center, we can help support the healing process once your child has received medical treatment.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is an instance of temporary unconsciousness or confusion caused by a head injury. Concussions happen more often to kids who play contact sports, but they can truly happen to anyone at any time.

Concussions range from mild to severe, with most falling on the mild end. Symptoms can be subtle and may last for days, weeks, or even longer. Some immediate symptoms include headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, confusion, or blurry vision.

How Do I Know If My Child Got a Concussion?

Concussions can be difficult to recognize in young children, since they often can’t explain what they’re feeling. Some signs to watch for include unbalanced walking, a dazed appearance, tiring easily, irritability, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, and excessive crying. If your child experiences any kind of head injury, make sure they see a medical professional right away.

How Can a Concussion Affect My Child Long-Term?

Concussion symptoms can persist for days, weeks, months, or even years after the injury, and they can affect a child’s overall executive functioning and cognitive abilities. Executive functioning covers many cognitive skills, like planning, motivation, memory, attention, and self-awareness. When kids struggle with executive functioning, school becomes much harder to navigate.

Suddenly, focusing on what the teacher is saying feels impossible. Managing a schedule feels overwhelming. Remembering to do chores becomes increasingly difficult. Since concussion symptoms are often “invisible,” others can mistake them for laziness or incompetence, which can leave a child feeling frustrated or embarrassed. You might notice your child losing interest in things they previously enjoyed, or their grades starting to slip.

How We Can Help Your Child After a Concussion

This is where Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center can step in. Our trained professionals work explicitly on executive functioning skills. Our speech-language pathologists and learning specialists can support your child with restorative techniques, compensatory strategies, and adaptive approaches to help lessen the impact of a recent concussion. Beyond skilled intervention, we also provide families with the resources and support they need along the way.

Get Support After Your Child’s Injury from Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center

If your child got a concussion recently and is having trouble with executive functioning skills, reach out to Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center today. We specialize in helping children achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.