What Do You Really Know About Concussion?

Everybody knows what a concussion is. Someone receives a blow to the head, maybe from a fall or being involved in a helmet-to-helmet crash during a football game or any of dozens of other ways. A nasty bump may appear at the point of impact or there may not be any visible sign at all. But we’ve all heard that they need to be watched for 24 hours or so to make sure they don’t slip into a coma, right? After that, the worry is over.

Or is it? Are all of the things we’ve always believed about concussion really true?

Most people would have difficulty defining exactly what a concussion is. We get the word from the Latin concutere, meaning “to shake violently.” Put simply, a concussion is a brain injury. Unfortunately, that is pretty much the last time “simple” can be used when it comes to concussion.

Concussions are typically considered to be relatively mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which are the result of some sort of trauma causing a disruption in the functioning of the brain. TBIs range from mild to severe, depending upon just how much damage is done.

Like concussion, TBI has become a familiar term that people may not understand as well as they think. Are you curious about your own level of knowledge about what concussions and traumatic brain injuries are and how they should be treated? Take our quiz and then click the link at the end to see how well you do.

True or False:

1. You must lose consciousness to be officially diagnosed with a concussion.
2. It is necessary to keep someone awake for the first 24 hours following a suspected concussion.
3. A concussion or traumatic brain injury can occur without a blow to the head.
4. The older you get the more severe the damage done by a concussion or TBI.
5. The symptoms of concussion always fade within a few days.

Multiple Choice:

What are the symptoms of a concussion? Choose all that are true.

1. Repeating the same question over and over
2. Loss of ability to remember dreams
3. Nausea
4. Difficulty sleeping
5. Difficulty staying awake
6. Decreased ability to focus
7. Difficulty reading
8. Constipation
9. Hypersensitivity to light or sound
10. Hallucinations
11. Explosive rage
12. Anxiety
13. Paranoia
14. Depression

Ready to check your answers? Click here!