Signs and Symptoms of Concussion

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Signs & Symptoms of Concussion

Immediate symptoms may include vacant stare, disorientation, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting, headache, and dizziness.

Ongoing symptoms may also develop.

Each person may report a variety of symptoms that impair their daily activities

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Physical symptoms:
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Imbalance
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
  • Phonophobia (sensitivity to sound)

Sleep symptoms:
  • Sleeping more than usual
  • Sleeping less than usual
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Trouble staying asleep
Emotional symptoms:
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic attacks
  • Mood swings
  • Aggression
  • Decreased tolerance to stress

Cognitive symptoms:
  • Poor short or long term memory
  • Confusion
  • Brain fog
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Reduced attention span
  • Slowed mental processing

Concussion and Dizziness

Up to 79% of people report dizziness or vertigo and 56% report balance issues post-concussion. The vestibular system is a small and fragile structure located in the inner ear within the skull. Trauma to the head can cause damage to the vestibular system. The following vestibular-related conditions may occur:

  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • Labyrinth concussion causing a unilateral loss of vestibular function
  • Base of skull fracture that damages the vestibular labyrinth or nerve causing a unilateral loss of vestibular function
  • Vestibular sensory integration dysfunction causing poor processing of vestibular input
  • Post traumatic migraines
  • Perilymphatic fistula or semicircular canal dehiscence
  • Brainstem concussion
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