Youth Concussion: What Parents Need to Know, Age by Age
A concussion can look very different in a 4-year-old who can't describe what they feel than in a 14-year-old athlete, so these articles walk you through the signs by age, what's normal in recovery and what isn't, and what to do next. You'll also learn when watching at home is reasonable and when your child's symptoms call for an in-person neurological evaluation.
After a hit to the head, the job is watching the right signs.
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that shakes the brain, and a child does not have to lose consciousness to have one. In the hours and days after a hit, watch for headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, slowed responses, sensitivity to light or noise, unusual sleepiness, or mood changes. In young children who can't describe symptoms, watch behavior: clinginess, imbalance, loss of interest in play. Vomiting repeatedly, worsening headache, unequal pupils, seizures, or inability to wake means emergency care now.
The old advice, days of total rest in a dark room, has been updated. Current guidance favors a day or two of relative rest, then a gradual, symptom-guided return to normal life. School usually comes back before sport: return to learn means easing back into class with adjustments like shortened days or reduced screen load, while return to play follows a stepwise progression from light activity to full contact, advancing only when your child stays symptom-free at each step. No same-day return to play after a suspected concussion, ever.
Most youth concussions resolve in a few weeks, but symptoms lasting beyond that, a second concussion, or a complicated recovery deserve a neurologist's involvement. Dr. Sedgh trained in both pediatrics and neurology and evaluates athletes through age 18. If your child has had a head injury or isn't recovering as expected, you can request an in-person evaluation.
What I actually do for youth concussion.
The injury itself
What hit, whether consciousness was lost, and how your child seemed in the first hour.
Symptoms since
Headache, dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity, and whether those are easing or building.
School and sleep
A shorter day or broken sleep is information. It is not, by itself, a calendar for return to play.
Emergency signs
Worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizure, new weakness, or a child who will not wake are emergencies.
How a booking with me actually goes.
Emergency signs leave the house
Worsening pain, repeated vomiting, seizure, unequal pupils, or trouble waking go to emergency care.
A short recovery log
Symptoms, school, and sleep for the days after the hit. Bring it to the visit.
Exam, then a decision about play
Return to school and return to sport are separate decisions for this child. No fixed day count is published here.
Things people ask before they book.
What do you need to know about the injury?
The visit covers how the injury happened, what symptoms have appeared and how they've evolved, and a neurological exam including balance, eye movements, and concentration. Dr. Sedgh then maps out a concrete return-to-school and return-to-play plan matched to your child's symptoms and sport, rather than a generic timeline.
Is imaging priced on this page?
Cost depends on insurance and on how many visits the recovery requires. We don't publish fixed fees on patient pages; the practice can discuss costs with you when you request a visit.
Is return to play decided in one visit?
Most children and teens recover within a few weeks, though some take longer, and that's not a sign of failure. Clearance to return to full sport is stepwise and symptom-guided, it can't be rushed, and persistent symptoms may call for follow-up visits to keep recovery moving.
How many days should my child stay out of sports?
This site does not publish a fixed number of rest days. Return to play depends on how your child is recovering and on the exam. A worsening course is a reason for urgent care, not for waiting out a calendar.
Does every concussion need a scan?
No. Many are followed with history and exam. A scan is considered when the story or the exam has a warning sign, including worsening symptoms, a seizure, or findings that do not fit an ordinary course.