Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion

Symptoms

Some mild TBI and concussion symptoms may appear right away, while others may not appear for hours or days after the injury. Symptoms generally improve over time, and most people with a mild TBI or concussion feel better within a couple of weeks.

Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion may affect how you feel, think, act or sleep

Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion are different for each person. Symptoms may change during recovery. For example, you may have headaches and feel sick to your stomach earlier on. A week or two after your injury you may notice you feel more emotional than usual or have trouble sleeping.

Physical

• Bothered by light or noise
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Feeling tired, no energy
• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting (early on)
• Vision problems

Thinking and Remembering

• Attention or concentration problems
• Feeling slowed down
• Foggy or groggy
• Problems with short- or long-term memory
• Trouble thinking clearly

Social or Emotional

• Anxiety or nervousness
• Irritability or easily angered
• Feeling more emotional
• Sadness

Sleep

• Sleeping less than usual
• Sleeping more than usual
• Trouble falling asleep

Complications and when to seek help

Symptoms may be difficult to sort out as they are similar to other health problems

After a mild TBI or concussion:

• A person may not recognize or admit that they are having problems
• A person may not understand how the symptoms they are experiencing affect their daily activities
• Problems may be overlooked by the person with a mild TBI or concussion, their family members, or their healthcare provider

Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have danger signs

Danger signs in adults

In rare cases, a dangerous blood clot that crowds the brain against the skull can develop. The people checking on you should call 9-1-1 or take you to an emergency department right away if you:

• Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Experience weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions, or seizures
• Vomit repeatedly
• Have slurred speech or unusual behavior
• Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
• Cannot recognize people or places, get confused, restless, or agitated
• Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up

Danger signs in children

Call 9-1-1 or take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:

• Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above
• Will not stop crying and are inconsolable
• Will not nurse or eat