Concussion

I’m not as young as I used to be...How do I know if my symptoms are due to concussion or early dementia?

As a speech-language pathologist who has focused on treating adults with neurological deficits, I hear this question ALL. THE. TIME. It’s understandable that people become very concerned whenever they have changes in their memory. And unfortunately, there is no easy answer. But hopefully the information in this blog post will provide you with the information you need to help answer this question.

Unfortunately, many of the signs of early stage dementia are also symptoms of concussion. These common signs include forgetfulness, trouble concentrating as long as you used to, difficulty finding the right words, changes in behavior/mood, and difficulty completing daily tasks. Therefore, it can be very difficult to determine if you have dementia based solely on those symptoms. One of the biggest ways to differentiate between the two is that you can typically make progress and recover after a concussion, but dementia typically gets progressively worse over time. If you did not notice any difficulties prior to sustaining your concussion, and then acute changes occurred, that would lead me to believe that the issues are concussion related. It is also possible that you are experiencing some normal cognitive decline (we call that getting older).

“Jot That Down” - Thoughts about note-taking following a head injury

One of the things I hear frequently when I meet a new patient is, “All of a sudden I have to write everything down. I used to just remember things and now I’m totally overwhelmed. It’s SO frustrating!”

Let’s take a minute to analyze the situation and put things in perspective. Normally, you have a routine which may involve work, typical household chores, family obligations, etc. But now you’ve been hurt - maybe due to a fall, a sports injury, or a car crash. You’re not feeling like yourself, you’re tired and scared, and all of a sudden tasks are piling up. In addition to your usual responsibilities, you may be dealing with any or all of the following:

  • Physical symptoms: headaches, dizziness, nausea, sleep disturbance, etc.

  • Emotional symptoms: sadness, fear, anxiety, trauma, etc.

  • Medical appointments happening at different times on different days

  • Insurance companies

  • Work issues

  • Not having a car

  • Being unable to perform household chores

When we think of it that way, it’s a lot! You’ve had several things added to your plate, and it’s hard to juggle and remember everything that needs to be done.

How Does Impaired Hearing Impact Cognition?

Did you know that hearing impairment is a common symptom after sustaining a concussion? Many people are aware of post-concussive symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or memory loss, but are less familiar with the possibility of hearing impairment. Some people experience hearing loss while others may experience symptoms such as difficulty processing auditory information, ringing in the ears, or sensitivity to noise. It varies significantly by person, but these symptoms can sometimes have a profound effect on your life.

You might be surprised to learn that even mild hearing impairment can impact a person’s life and daily functioning. In fact, research shows that even mild hearing impairment is associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline as well as an increased risk of dementia. In this blog, we’re going to discuss several examples of different areas of cognition that are directly impacted by a hearing impairment in addition to some tips to help you alleviate these challenges.

Concussion Recovery in the Time of Covid-19

When recovering from a concussion, routines are extremely important for brain health and healing. Given the current pandemic, many of us have had our daily routines completely upended. As we settle into the changes in our day to day lives, maintaining routines when possible, as well as creating new routines will be helpful to support ongoing recovery. With stay at home orders in most states, we have put together some tips to help get through these trying times while dealing with the effects of a concussion.

Concussion and Vision Therapy

According to the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, up to 90% of people following traumatic brain injury experience visual issues. 90%!! Given that the visual system is such a big driver of symptoms, we thought we would delve into the different symptoms that can occur due to visual dysfunction, as well as the most common visual dysfunctions seen following concussion.

Exercise and BDNF

We’ve all heard that exercise is good for our health. It has been associated with benefits for almost all systems in the body including improved cardiovascular health, increased bone mineral density, decreased risk for stroke, diabetes, and cancer. It is also well known for decreased rates of depression.

What do we know about how exercise impacts the brain? Exercise has been associated with improved cognitive function including memory, attention, executive functioning, and problem solving. It has been shown to promote brain vascularization (improved blood flow to the brain). Exercise is linked to a larger volume of the hippocampus, the brain center for learning and memory, and also one area of the brain that is affected in Alzheimer’s. Exercise has also been shown to promote the growth of new neurons in the brains.

Concussion Myths: Debunked!

Concussion is a hot topic these days, and with that comes a lot of misinformation. With concussions getting so much attention in the media, there are a lot of providers jumping on board and saying that they treat concussions. This can be misleading and even harmful if they do not have the specialized training needed to effectively and efficiently manage these injuries.

Since it can be so confusing to know what to believe, we are going to dive into some of the most common myths, misconceptions, and misinformation that are out there about concussions!

Concussion Care Matters: Don't Just Sit and Rest

Any orthopedist will tell you that a broken arm requires 4-6 weeks in a cast to heal. Heart surgeons give their cardiac patients 6 weeks to begin to feel better, and up to 6 months to feel the full benefits of the surgery. According to many professionals, an injury to the brain, our most complex organ, should take 10 days.

I hope you can appreciate the absurdity of the timelines given above. I will absolutely concede that a number of people with concussive injuries heal within that ten-day time frame, and that is certainly the hope, but many do not. Symptoms that persist beyond 10 days should be addressed by trained professionals to maximize recovery. Early treatment is key for better outcomes.

Physical Activity After Concussion: When and How Much?

In our last blog post, we discussed that rest following concussion, while commonly prescribed, may not be the best approach for maximizing recovery. Many patients immediately following a concussion are instructed to rest, including minimizing their physical and cognitive activity, and interactions with other people. But what do we know about strict rest following concussion?

If a concussion is caused during a sporting event, immediate removal from the game is crucial. So in that sense, “rest” is important immediately following an injury. This is important for several reasons, mostly to decrease the risk of an additional impact which could be fatal. The question remains, how long after a concussion is sustained should a person rest, and how quickly should they get back to activity?

Athletic Trainers: Who are we and What do we do?

So, you’re wondering what an athletic trainer is and what we do? You’re not alone. I get this question all the time. You know when you’re watching sports, and someone gets hurt? I’m the person in khakis with a fanny pack who runs onto the field to assess the situation. In this moment, I am evaluating the injury, making a determination if they can safely continue playing, or deciding if they need to be pulled from the game for their safety. In the case of suspected concussion, I first evaluate level of consciousness. How alert are they to person, place and time? Then I evaluate their symptoms. Are they immediately dizzy or off balance? Do they have a headache or nausea? Are there any red flags, like vomiting, that necessitate emergency medical care? If they need to be pulled from play, we implement the concussion protocol for their league. This involves evaluation by a medical doctor and appropriate therapies for safe return to participation in practices and games.

To Play, Or Not to Play, That is the Question.

As a cognitive therapist, I have worked directly with hundreds of people who have had multiple concussions. I am also a mother. One of the questions I am frequently asked is, “Would you ever let your kids play football?” With stories of suicides, severe depression, cognitive challenges, and persistent physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, ringing in the ears) associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) making headlines, a lot of people see this question as a no-brainer. Personally, I probably wouldn’t, but it just so happens my children have never expressed a desire to play football, and it likely will never come up. I think this issue is quite complex, and while I would choose not to let my children play, I don’t harshly judge parents who do. After all, I allow my children to participate in sports such as alpine skiing and soccer, which also have risks.

Colorado Concussion Clinic

4251 Kipling Street, Suite 405 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

1100 S. McCaslin Blvd Suite 160 Superior, CO 80027

7120 E Orchard Road, Suite 255 Centennial, CO 80111

Phone #: (303) 932-2030

Fax #: (833) 380-1476

Email: info@healmyconcussion.com