On behalf of Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation posted in Catastrophic Injury on Thursday, February 4, 2016.
This week, the San Jose Mercury News featured a new article written by Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation’s Michael M. Shea Jr. The article, entitled “The Value of Obsessing over Concussions,” explores the historical development surrounding the injury and the evolution of diagnosis and treatment. He also makes a case for why obsessing over concussions – especially when they happen to children – is a good thing.
Parents should remember that concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury that can have far reaching consequences. Responsible for 280,000 hospitalizations and 50,000 fatalities per year, brain trauma is a serious matter that can compromise a person’s ability to think, function, and relate to others.
Previously only diagnosed only after a loss of consciousness, the medical definition of concussion has expanded to include several telltale signs of brain injury:
- Difficulty with memory, concentration, attention, focus, and processing of information
- Physical symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, balance problems, nausea, headaches, or sensitivity to sound or light
- Emotional symptoms, including personality changes, depression, or irritability
Now, doctors agree that a loss of consciousness is not necessary to diagnose a concussive brain injury.
The above symptoms can seriously harm a child’s ability to learn and do well in school, which can seriously compromise their future. While most patients recover from a concussion without any permanent damage, some people do not. Children who sustain a concussive brain injury should be carefully watched after they return to school. Parents should pay attention to how they return to learning and find the right doctor to monitor their care. Their child’s future could depend on it.
The full text of the article is available online via the San Jose Mercury News.
Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation handles all types of catastrophic injury cases, including those involving traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. To speak with a lawyer about your case, please reach out to the firm bysending an email