How would a doctor diagnose a concussion?
Your doctor may order imaging tests — such as MRI or CT scans — to make sure there’s no bruising or bleeding in your brain. To confirm a concussion diagnosis, your doctor will use the data from your: Exam and interview. ImPACT or other cognitive tests.
How quickly can a concussion be diagnosed?
Signs and symptoms of a concussion may not appear until hours or days after the injury. Tests your doctor may perform or recommend include a neurological examination, cognitive testing and imaging tests.
Can you diagnose yourself with a concussion?
Since the symptoms of a concussion may vary, your doctor will likely order tests to determine whether your injury caused a concussion. You may also be able to conduct tests on your own at home while you’re waiting for medical assistance.
Do you need to see a doctor for a mild concussion?
You should see your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have bad headaches, repeated vomiting, difficulty using your arms or legs, or worsening sleepiness or confusion.
What are the symptoms of a severe concussion?
The signs and symptoms of a concussion may be physical (blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue), cognitive (confusion, slurred speech, amnesia), emotional (anxiety, depression, personality changes), or related to sleep (increased or decreased sleep). The most common symptom of a concussion is headache.
What to do if you have a concussion or think you might?
If you think you or someone you know has a concussion, contact your health care professional. Your health care professional can evaluate your concussion and determine if you need to be referred to a neurologist, neuropsychologist, neurosurgeon, or specialist in rehabilitation (such as a speech pathologist ) for specialized care.
What is the recovery time for a concussion?
The researchers used a concussion-symptom scale and found that patients who engaged in the most mental activity took about 100 days to completely recover, having no headaches, dizziness or blurred vision. For those who gave their brains time to heal, recovery time was cut to an average of 43 days, the study found.
What is the prognosis for a concussion?
The overall prognosis for patients with concussions is good. With minimal intervention and a proper diagnosis, a large majority of patients who sustained a single concussion/ mTBI will recover within hours or days with no lasting ill effects. Generally 85-90% of individuals with concussion/mTBI recover within a 30-day window from the time of injury.
