Practical Research 1 Lesson 9 Scope and delimitation.pptx
TBI Signs & Symptoms for Schools & Students: Concussion
1. Traumatic Brain Injury
Each year, over 4,000 of Pennsylvania’s children/adolescents survive severe traumatic brain
injuries significant enough to require hospitalization. Many are left with life-altering difficulties
in physical, cognitive, or behavioral functioning.
If your child exhibits any of these • Thinks about the same thing over and over
symptoms: • Has trouble learning new things
• Seizure: eyes fluttering, body going stiff, • Has trouble putting things in order
staring into space (desk, room, papers)
• Forgets everything, amnesia • Has trouble making decisions
• Hands shake, tremors, muscles get weak, • Has trouble planning, starting, doing and
loss of muscle tone finishing a task
• Nausea or vomiting • Has trouble remembering to do things
on time
Consult your child’s doctor immediately! • Makes poor choices (loss of common sense)
When you suspect a brain injury: Trouble Communicating
• Changes the subject, has trouble staying
Possible Causes:
on topic
• Falls • Has trouble thinking of the right word
• Motor vehicle crash • Has trouble listening
• Sports injury • Has trouble paying attention, can’t have
• Physical violence long conversations
Many children and adolescents with mild • Does not say things clearly
brain injury (concussion) may never see a • Has trouble reading
health care professional or have any long- • Talks too much
term difficulties. Some adolescents have
problems that may not be noticed right away. Changes in Personality, Mood, or Behavior
You may see changes in your teenager over
several months that concern you. This fact • Is irritable, anxious, restless
sheet lists some of the more prevalent signs of • Gets upset or frustrated easily
a mild brain injury. Your teen may also be • Overreacts, cries or laughs too easily
exhibiting symptoms that are not included on • Has mood swings
this list. If your teen has any of the following
• Wants to be alone or away from people
problems – and they persist – consult your
child’s doctor. • Is afraid of others, blames others
• Wants to be taken care of
Difficulty Thinking • Does not know how to act with people
• Has trouble remembering things • Takes risks without thinking first
• Has trouble paying attention • Depressed
• Reacts slowly • Doesn’t want to do anything, can’t
• Thinks slowly “get started”
• Takes things too literally, doesn’t • Is tired, drowsy
understand jokes • Is slow to respond, to process information,
• Understands words but not their meaning or to complete tasks
2. • Trips, falls, drops things, is awkward What to Do:
• Eats too little, eats all the time, or eats things that If your child has any of the problems on this list, and they
aren’t food persist, ask your child’s doctor to have your child seen by
• Has different sexual behavior a specialist in brain injury who can help your adolescent
• Starts using or has a different reaction to alcohol learn skills (rehabilitation).
or drugs
• Takes off clothes in public
• Change in relationships with friends
If your child experiences any changes listed on
• Variation in school/academic performance this sheet that impact his or her education at
school, contact:
Health Problems
• Headaches, including: • The BrainsSTEPS Program
- Recurring headache Brenda Eagan Brown, M.S.Ed.
School Re-Entry Program Coordinator
- Pain in the head muscle eaganbrown@biapa.org
- Pain in the skull 724-944-6542
- Pain below the ear www.brainsteps.net
- Pain in the jaw or
- Pain in or around the eyes
• The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania
• Balance Problems Brain Injury Resource Line: 800-444-6443
- Dizziness www.biapa.org
- Trouble with balance
• Sensory Changes
- Bothered by smells
- Experiences changes in taste or smell
- Experiences appetite changes BrainSTEPS
- Ringing in the ears
- Hearing loss
- Bothered by noises
- Can’t handle normal background noise
- Feels too hot
- Feels too cold
- Doesn’t feel temperature at all Brain Injury
- Blurry vision School Re-Entry Program
- Seeing double
- Hard to see clearly (hard to focus)
- Bothered by light
• Sleep Problems
- Can’t sleep through the night
- Sleeps too much
- Days and nights get mixed up
• Pain Problems
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Unexplained body pain Development of this publication courtesy of
Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries
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