A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a sudden jolt, bump, or blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This forceful movement stretches and damages brain cells, triggering chemical and functional changes that disrupt normal brain processes. These temporary alterations affect how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Evaluating a potential concussion immediately and accurately is important because the effects, while often temporary, can be serious. Timely intervention can significantly affect recovery.
Immediate Observable Signs
The first step in evaluating a potential concussion involves observing physical and behavioral changes immediately after an impact. While a brief loss of consciousness can occur, it is more common for the individual to appear dazed, stunned, or confused about their location or the event details.
An observer might notice the person moving clumsily or uncoordinated, demonstrating problems with balance or gait. Their speech may be noticeably slurred, or they might respond to questions with a significant delay. Other signs include forgetfulness, such as repeatedly asking the same question, or exhibiting a blank stare.
Subjective and Delayed Symptoms
After the immediate confusion passes, the evaluation shifts to the internal feelings and complaints reported by the injured person, which are often delayed. The most common report is a headache or a sensation of pressure inside the head, which may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
Many people experience sensory issues, such as feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or developing a heightened sensitivity to light and noise. Cognitive complaints are also frequent, described as feeling “foggy,” slowed down, or having difficulty concentrating and remembering new information. Sleep disturbances are another common delayed symptom, manifesting as sleeping significantly more or less than usual, or having trouble falling asleep.
Urgent Warning Signs
Certain symptoms are considered red flags because they suggest a potentially severe injury, such as bleeding or swelling within the skull, and require immediate emergency medical attention. Any headache that steadily worsens over time, instead of improving, necessitates an immediate trip to the emergency room. Repeated vomiting, especially after the initial period, is a sign of increasing intracranial pressure. Seizures or convulsions, or an inability to wake up, increasing drowsiness, or a significant change in the level of alertness, also demand urgent care. Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs, slurred speech, or the drainage of clear fluid from the nose or ears are signs that bypass home monitoring and require immediate professional intervention.
Cognitive and Balance Screening
Once the immediate danger has passed, a layperson can perform simple, non-diagnostic checks to assess cognitive function and physical coordination. A basic orientation check involves asking questions that test memory and awareness, such as the current date, the location, or what happened just before the injury occurred. To evaluate short-term memory, the individual can be asked to repeat a short list of three to five words and then recall them again a few minutes later.
For a simple balance screen, a person can be asked to stand heel-to-toe or attempt to walk a straight line. The ability to balance on one leg for a short period can also reveal subtle problems with postural control, but these simple checks are not a substitute for a professional medical diagnosis.