DuBOIS — A man falls off of a ladder and hits his head on the ground. A woman is involved in a car accident and her head hits the windshield. A child is hit in the head during a soccer game. What do all of these people have in common? They may have suffered a concussion.

Concussion is a term for a head injury that temporarily interferes with the way your brain works. It can affect attention, memory, judgment, reflexes, balance, coordination and sleep patterns.

Concussions are commonly caused by an impact to the head or body. Falls are their most frequent cause. They can also result from car accidents and other hits to the head. In addition, concussions are common among athletes who play a contact sport, such as football or hockey.

Not everyone who experiences a blow to the body or head has a concussion. However, if you sustain any impact to the head, it is important to seek a concussion assessment and, if needed, treatment to avoid long-term brain damage.

Know the symptoms

It may be hard to identify mild concussions; however, they can still have a major impact. There is not a standard timetable when symptoms may appear. In some instances, they may be noticeable immediately, or they might appear days, weeks and even months after the injury.

When an injury occurs, it is wise to make an appointment with your primary care provider for concussion treatment if you experience the following symptoms after a head injury.

• Headache, blurry vision, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, problems with balance and/or fatigue
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating and/or remembering new information
• Feeling irritable, sad or anxious and/or experiencing mood swings
• Difficulty falling asleep and/or sleeping more or less than usual

More serious concussions may require emergency treatment. Signs of a severe head injury could include the following.

• Obvious trauma to the head, including bleeding or bruising
• Weakness, numbness and/or decreased coordination
• Vomiting and/or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Losing consciousness
• Being very drowsy and/or unable to wake up
• One pupil being larger than the other
• Having convulsions and/or seizures
• Not being able to recognize people and/or places
• Becoming increasingly confused and/or agitated
• Displaying unusual behavior
• For infants and children, being inconsolable and/or refusing to eat

Diagnosis

“It is a very thorough process to diagnose a concussion,” said Dr. James Pacelli, a neurologist with Penn Highlands Neurology. “The diagnosis is based on a combination of assessments because there is not just a single concussion test.”

Your physician will begin by learning about how the injury occurred and the symptoms present. A neurological exam will also be performed. This could include checking your hearing, vision, reflexes, balance, strength, memory and concentration. If you have symptoms of a severe concussion, your doctor will likely order an imaging test to check for swelling or bleeding in the brain.

Treatment

“Physical rest is essential to concussion recovery,” said Pacelli. “Sports, exercise and other activities that put you at risk for another head injury must be avoided.”

Your doctor will also prescribe some degree of mental rest. Depending on your symptoms, this could range from having a reduced work or school schedule to avoiding anything that requires thinking. That includes reading, looking at a smartphone screen, working or playing on a computer and watching television.

For more information, visit phhealthcare.org/concussion.