What You Need To Know About Concussions
Concussion is the most common form of head injury for athletes and is associated with any number of symptoms, such as disorientation, confusion, amnesia, visual disturbance, headache, dizziness, and sometimes loss of consciousness (LOC), as well as other symptoms. It is not necessary to lose 
consciousness to sustain a concussion, nor to actually hit one’s head. A very mild concussion can last less than 15 minutes. It is important for athletes to report concussions because the cumulative effects of repeated concussion can result in permanent intellectual and cognitive changes. We also know that youth appear to be more vulnerable to the effects of concussion.
It is now known that REST is the best treatment after a concussion and helps the brain heal faster. If the athlete is still symptomatic, forcing him or her to exert either physically or mentally will likely lengthen the recovery period. And no athlete should return to play if concussion symptoms re-surface with exertion.
Management of concussion in youth is very important to prevent a rare but often fatal brain injury called Second Impact Syndrome. This Syndrome may occur when an athlete suffers a mild concussion and then within a short period of time receives a second blow to the head. Rapid brain 
swelling can occur as the brain has not yet healed from the first hit. Increased intracranial pressure, if uncontrolled, can lead to death or severe neurological damage.
When concussion symptoms persist, especially after repeated or successive concussions, a condition called Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is identified. PCS occurs when any of a variety of symptoms, such as headache, attention/concentration difficulties, problems with memory, slow mental processing, fatigue, and emotionality or irritability is experienced for weeks or months after recovery would have been expected. In such cases, individuals with PCS are usually referred to a neuropsychologist for a comprehensive evaluation to assess for any cognitive deficits and significant emotional difficulties. Recommendations may be made to address the symptoms, such as cognitive rehabilitation to improve memory and compensatory strategies, or biofeedback to treat persistent headaches. Additional medical, neurological, or psychiatric consultations may also be made if warranted.
We know that cognitive/neuropsychological testing is more sensitive in identifying concussion than neurological, radiological, or medical examination. The Mt. Diablo Memory Center, proudly uses ImPACT, a premier, user-friendly computer based tool that was designed to assist in the proper diagnosis and treatment of concussion. The ImPACT program evaluates and documents multiple aspects of neurocognitive functioning including memory, brain processing speed, reaction time, and post-concussive symptoms. This program can be used to manage concussions through pre-season baseline (pre-injury) and post-injury testing to monitor recovery and serve as a tool in making data driven return to play decisions. The tool is also available for injured athletes who do not have baseline testing. In those cases, athletes are evaluated post-injury using standardized norms to document the severity of the injury and monitor recovery.