“Nearly 30,000 veterans have suffered some kind of traumatic brain injury in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – an estimated 2,000 of them severe enough to put warriors into comas or leave them with severe disabilities. Yet eight years into the wars, testimony before Congress shows veterans still suffer yawning gaps in coverage for what has become the conflicts’ signature wound.”   (News & Observer, 5/23/2010)

“…part of Pittman’s brain has gone dormant, and on most days, he can’t think straight. He leaves the room and forgets what he was searching for. He gets migraines so piercing that his right eye wanders. Anger comes easily, inspiring rages that sometimes have his wife terrified for herself and the couple’s 3-year-old daughter.”

A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the number of injuries are often under-counted. In addition, the severity of symptoms is underestimated. For example, some states only require that injured athletes be removed from play for the rest of the day… and yet, a study by the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington found that more than 80% of students who experienced a concussion reported a significant worsening of symptoms over the first four weeks after attempting to return to school academics. (From article in USA Today.)

The primary federal program directed specifically at preventing concussion in high school sports is Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, a program of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This program provides information for coaches, trainers, athletes, and parents, including information about how long a child should sit on the sidelines after concussion. For example:

“Several factors may affect decisions about when it is safe for an athlete to participate in sports again, which are referred to as return-to-play decisions. For example, research has shown that athletes who have sustained one concussion are at increased risk of sustaining another concussion. An athlete who sustains a repeat concussion before the brain recovers from the first—within hours, days, or weeks—may recover more slowly or may have increased likelihood of long-term consequences. Research has also shown that children and adolescents are more likely than adults to sustain a concussion and take longer to recover from one, although the reasons for this difference remain unclear.” (from the GAO report)

What is clear is that concussion–more precisely known as mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)–is more common than estimated, more damaging to young brains than most people think, and not as respected as it should be. What we’ve learned from studying adult athletes is that repeated mild head trauma can lead to permanent and debilitating brain injury, including early dementia and death.  No one encourages young people to get injured, but there is a strong culture encouraging kids to get back in the game, and to play through the pain. The government’s report is the first step in making sure everyone is aware of the potential severity of every head injury.

(For more information about brain injury, visit HensonFuerst dedicated web page:  HensonFuerst TBI page.)

In late April 2010, an NCAA panel recommended that all schools have a clear plan for what to do when a student athlete receives a head injury. The main issues are recognizing signs of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI, also known as concussion), understanding the potential severity of every head injury, and deciding when the athlete is fit to resume playing. (Sports Illustrated/CNN)

The first week of May, it was announced that athletes at all Big Ten colleges will be required to undergo education about the symptoms of MTBI.

On May 9, 2010, Dylan Steigers died of a football-related head injury. He walked off the field after a scrimmage, vomited–a sign of concussion–then taken to the hospital. He died of subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain). His death will surely be remembered and cited often as yet another reminder of how serious every head injury can be. (OregonLive)

At HensonFuerst, we are highly attuned to the dangers of brain trauma.  Every day we see clients whose lives have been changed forever after an accident. We support the principle of brain injury education for athletes, coaches, parents, and college administration officials.  The more we all understand about the signs and symptoms of brain injury, the more we respect the seriousness of even “mild” concussions, the more we encourage wellness over performance, the fewer disabled athletes will require a lifetime of special care.

We hope that the responsibility for recognizing when an athlete may be unfit to play is given to those who have the appropriate medical training. We say this because it was reported that “students will sign a waiver acknowledging their responsibility to be an active participant in their care.” (Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, as reported on AnnArbor.com.)

Yes, it is important that athletes report their symptoms honestly–without fear of mockery or reprisals–but people who have a brain injury can be confused, forgetful, and disoriented. If the intention of this waiver is to get athletes to become more aware, that’s wonderful, but we hope that it is not used as a way to shield the colleges from their responsibility to protect the students.

HensonFuerst is a proud supporter of the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC).