Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 53

Myth #1: Proper care
doesn't begin until after
a concussion happens.

Some of the most important steps of
concussion treatment are taken before
a concussion ever happens. To ensure
better injury management, baseline
concussion testing provides experts
with a place to start from in the event
of a concussion. "Historically, baseline
testing has been used for elite athletes,
but now there's a version for athletes of
all ages and skill level," says Adam Shunk,
PhD, a neuropsychologist with Gwinnett
Medical Center's Concussion Institute.
Baseline concussion screening helps the
Concussion Institute team to determine
the extent of the injury, allowing the
team to closely monitor recovery and
make safe return-to-play decisions,
"and if it's utilized by professional
athletes, wouldn't you want your child
to use it, too?" adds David Schwartz,
PhD, a neuropsychologist with the
Concussion Institute.

Myth #2: If my child has
a concussion, he/she will
have typical symptoms.

When it comes to concussions,
each one is unique. As Dr. Schwartz
says, "When you've met one person
with a concussion, you've met one
person with a concussion-they're all
different." This means that for some,
symptoms may be immediate and
severe, while for others they may be
delayed and mild or even nonexistent,
"Every person's susceptibility and
recovery are entirely unique," Dr.
Shunk says.
Some of the most common
symptoms you may notice include
headache, nausea, vision problems,
heightened sensitivity to lights or
noises, feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy
or groggy, attention or concentration
problems, memory loss, confusion,
sleep changes, feeling off balance,
emotionality or irritability, and just
not feeling right.

Myth #3: Only athletes
get concussions.

PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK

A concussion is a mild traumatic
brain injury (mTBI) caused by either
a direct or indirect blow to the head
that is hard enough to disrupt the
brain's metabolic functioning. It is
this metabolic disruption that causes
the physical, cognitive, emotional
and sleep-related symptoms of
a concussion.
There's a common misconception
that a majority of concussions occur
in athletes, but this isn't the case. In
fact, "a majority of concussions happen
in laypeople who fall or bump into
things," Dr. Schwartz says. Some of
the most common causes include falls,
motor vehicle accidents, playground
injuries and bicycle accidents.

Myth #4: You don't
need to get care for a
concussion; it will heal
on its own.

Because concussions are complex
injuries, you should not try to diagnose
or evaluate the severity of a concussion
on your own. Nor should you try to treat
it without the guidance of a trained
medical professional. "Concussions
aren't just a ding. They can seriously
impact day-to-day life and academic
achievement," Dr. Schwartz says.
There is no one-size-fits-all when
it comes to treating concussions, so
it's important to utilize the care and
guidance of experts, like those of the
Concussion Institute. With a specially
trained team, your child will receive a
personalized treatment plan that ensures
a quick and safe recovery. "In fact, early
intervention and education have been
shown to reduce recovery times and
resulting complications," Dr. Shunk says.

Myth #5: I only need
to give my child a break
from sports while he/
she is recovering from a
concussion.

Depending on the severity of the
concussion, your child may not only
need a return-to-play protocol, but
also a return-to-learn protocol. Often,
the mental activity and concentration
required at school may worsen
symptoms. "This is why it's important
to coordinate with the teachers,
administrators, counselors and school
nurses at your child's school, so
they know about the injury and can
help to make appropriate academic
accommodations," says Maria Chininis,
EdS, an education coordinator with
the Concussion Institute. Experts will
coordinate with the staff at your child's
school. "We will also help to implement
a return-to-learn protocol that will
make your child's recovery the most
efficient and successful it can be,"
Dr. Schwartz says. ■
FALL 2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center

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Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Contents
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