Concussions in Children: Contact Sports Cannot be Blamed for All of Them
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Concussions in Children: Contact Sports Cannot be Blamed for All of Them

by | Nov 24, 2018 | Personal Injury

Concussions are a hot topic right now, especially as more is learned about concussions in contact sports and long term effects of repeated concussions and head injuries. Concussions, specifically in children, caused by contact sports is a heavily debated topic and it seems like everyone has an opinion. Just ask anyone involved in any of Kansas City’s youth soccer clubs whether or not heading should be allowed and you will get an earful for one side or the other. Children do get concussions playing contact sports, but children also get concussions caused by other events that are completely unrelated to contact sports.

Concussion symptoms

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that are the result of the brain hitting the inner walls of the skull caused by a blow to the head or upper body, or caused by violent shaking of the head and upper body. Concussions are not always obvious on the outside and sometimes children, especially younger children, do not have the maturity to recognize or appreciate the symptoms that they are feeling and may not communicate how they are feeling to adults. Concussions do not always cause someone to lose consciousness, but you can watch for some of the following signs of concussions if your child has sustained a blow to the upper body or head:

  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Dazed look
  • Change in eating or sleeping
  • Behavior changes such as becoming more irritable and easy to anger
  • Loss of balance
  • Complaints of headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to noise
  • Slurred speech
  • Disorientation

If you suspect that there is any possibility that your child has sustained a concussion, our Kansas City brain injury lawyers at Mayer & Rosenberg, PC recommend that you take your child for a medical evaluation immediately. Concussions can be very serious, especially in children.

Common causes of children’s concussions

Of course contact sports such as football, soccer, and hockey sometimes cause concussions in children, but there are many other causes as well. Some of these causes include car, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents; falls that result in an impact to head and upper body; physical abuse; playing sports without proper safety equipment such as batting in baseball without a helmet; being struck in the head with an object such as a child pulling a dresser or television onto his or her head; and a head striking a solid object such as running into a wall or pole.

Concussion prevention

Concussions are not always preventable, but there are safety precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of concussions. Pay attention to recalls and safety reviews for things like top-heavy dressers and defective cribs that may cause head injuries to children. Make sure they wear proper equipment in sports and recreation such as bicycle helmets and catchers masks. Secure heavy items that children could pull from counters down onto themselves.

You cannot prepare for or prevent every accident or injury, especially when concussions are caused by someone else’s negligence. If your child has sustained a concussion in an accident, contact a Kansas City brain injury attorney at Mayer & Rosenberg, PC. The health and safety of our clients, especially children, is very important to us and we want to see that you and your child are fully and fairly compensated for brain injuries sustained that were caused by someone else’s fault.

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