Concussions are not a new development when it comes to raising children. Whether they’re daredevil toddlers or burgeoning young athletes, kids hit their heads. They fall. They collide with each other. They get hurt, and sometimes head injuries are part of the equation. But according to recent research, concussion rates are rising sharply among kids and teens in the United States.
In a study conducted through the University of California, San Francisco, health insurance claims for over nine million Americans were reviewed and it was discovered that the diagnosis for concussion more than doubled between the years of 2007 and 2014. What does this mean?
Well, it could mean three things:
With a growing spotlight on issues like CTE thanks to professional athletes and celebrities being in the spotlight reflecting on their head injuries, a greater awareness has developed among the general public about TBIs. And, there has been a bigger push to educate parents, educators, coaches, and administrators as much as possible about head injuries so that students receive the right kind of rapid response when a head injury is suspected, and so that they don’t reinjure themselves again after an undiagnosed head injury and face even greater health threats.
An Education in Diagnosing TBIs
The greatest jump in the number of concussions was seen in the 10- to 14-year-old age group. The injury rate for this demographic more than tripled. The second-highest group was in the 15- to 19-year-olds. While the study didn’t take into account the exact causes of the concussions, it’s safe to say that sports injuries and other physical activities, like bike riding and skateboarding, have all contributed to the higher concussion count.
The law is taking TBIs very seriously now too. All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that ensure children are properly evaluated for potential concussion symptoms. The regulations are also known as “return-to-play” laws and require young athletes to be removed from whatever game they are playing if a concussion is suspected. Before play can resume, the young athlete must have a doctor’s clearance and permission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has developed its own brand of brain injury education with their Heads Up program.
The CDC reports that nearly 250,000 kids in the U.S. go to the emergency room annually because of a concussion, but what about the kids who don’t get taken to the ER? Recent studies have suggested that the actual number of injuries is closer to two million children a year, and even that might be low. What researchers want parents to know is that, while concussions do happen and in the worst cases they can be very serious, it’s not necessary to prevent your kids from being active just to avoid a head injury. It’s simply important to take the proper precautions in all athletic and recreational activities, like wearing helmets and protective equipment, and having a working knowledge of concussion symptoms.
Mike Morgan is a health enthusiast and has written several health articles for various health magazines.
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