Concussion

Concussions can be unpredictable, sometimes resolving completely on their own or lingering much longer.

We can help you with wide-ranging treatments that restore your physical mobility, cognitive function, and emotional resilience.

Concussion symptoms

• Anxiety
• Attention and concentration difficulties
• Behavioral changes
• Blurred vision
• Chronic headache
• Confusion
• Dazed or groggy feeling 
• Depression
• Deteriorating performance at school or work
• Difficulty organizing and completing daily tasks
• Difficulty with concentration
• Dilated pupils
• Dizziness
• Emotional changes
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of eye movement
• Loss of memory
• Mood changes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Respiratory failure
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Sleep pattern disruption

Our approach to concussion diagnosis

Concussions can alter how your brain functions, leading to long-term complications like trouble concentrating and thinking. Although anyone can get one, athletes, children, young adults and older adults are most at risk. If you’ve had one concussion before, you’re more likely to have another one.

When you consult with us, our diagnostic approach is broad and all-inclusive. We use the latest standard battery of tests to examine your functional, emotional, cognitive, mental and physical health. 

What to do if you hit your head

If a fall, accident or assault caused a significant jolt to your head, pay attention to any and all symptoms. 

Remember, don't hide it or try to shake it off – you may have sustained a concussion. 

If you suspect you do have a concussion, report it to your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room. This is the only way to ensure a full recovery.  

We address every symptom

Headaches and dizziness are common concussion symptoms. We also look at visual, memory, balance, brain and psychological function. Tell us if your head has been hit in the past. 

We’ll have a detailed discussion together so we don’t miss more subtle concussion symptoms like personality changes. 

As part of the initial evaluation, we:

• Diagnose and treat acute brain injury
• Evaluate chronic, persistent symptoms
• Counsel athletes with a history of concussion who want to continue playing sports 

We work as a collaborative team across disciplines. To assess the full scope of your symptoms, we work with:

• Neurological surgeons
• Neurologists
• Neuro ophthalmologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Speech therapists and others

Post-Concussion Syndrome

You may be able to recover from a concussion within several days or weeks. 

Post-concussion syndrome, a syndrome where your brain has held onto its concussion symptoms, can make recovery take several months to more than a year. 

A few typical symptoms are:

• Loss of concentration 
• Loss of memory 
• Emotional and behavioral changes 

You’re at a higher risk for developing post-concussion syndrome if you’re: 

• Older
• Female
• Sustained head trauma from assault, accidents, falls and sports

Second-Impact Syndrome

Second-impact syndrome is rare but potentially fatal. It occurs when you have a second concussion before the symptoms of the first concussion have fully resolved. This can happen even when the second concussion is mild. 

Athletes are in the highest risk group for second-impact syndrome. If you’re an athlete who’s had a concussion, avoid all sports until your doctor clears you. 

Second-Impact Syndrome symptoms to be aware of include:

• Dilated pupils
• Loss of eye movement
• Loss of consciousness
• Respiratory failure

Concussion treatment at UCI Health

The treatments available for you at our dedicated concussion clinic are holistic, spanning several subspecialties. If you visit our emergency department or trauma services with a concussion, you will also be referred to our clinic. 

We determine what treatment you need based directly on your unique test results. Besides advanced medication for headache, we may recommend:

• Neuropsychological counseling
• Occupational rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Lifestyle changes 
• Speech therapy

Some common questions we get from our concussion patients are, “When can I get back to work?” or “What’s my future risk of cognitive decline?” The answers will come as you embrace your recovery.

How you benefit from treatment

When your head is hit hard enough to create a concussion, your brain shakes. That impact can damage brain cells or introduce chemical changes that undermine your thinking, behavior and feelings.

We help you regain functioning in literally every aspect of your life so you can return to living it. Clearer thinking, improved speech or physical coordination, getting counseling and emotional relief are all part of our comprehensive care.

Preventing concussion

You’re at greater risk of having another concussion if you’ve already had one. Take these steps to stay safer:

• Always wear a seat belt 
• Install the proper safety seat, booster seat or seat belt for children
• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Wear a helmet while cycling, on a motorcycle, playing contact sports, skiing, horseback riding and snowboarding
• Reduce your risk for falls by eliminating clutter and installing grab bars in the bathroom

Why choose UCI Health for concussion care?

Our monthly team conference focuses on you

All the clinicians who treat concussion meet every month. We discuss each case, including the tough ones, from the point of view of our own specialties. We note how you’re progressing, gather new treatment recommendations, if any, then bring those back to you.

We specialize in concussion and treat a high volume of patients

That volume of experience is vital for proper diagnosis. It helps us recognize and treat subtle concussion symptoms that could otherwise get overlooked, delaying your care. 

You benefit from deeply-practiced experts who use the wisdom they’ve earned from hundreds of previous cases. 

Our neurologist-led dedicated concussion clinic is a rarity

We’re the only adult concussion clinic in Orange County. But our full range of services are also rare across the U.S. Primary care doctors, sports doctors and other neurologists send their concussion patients to us. 

We don’t only measure outcomes with fancy functional tests

Of course we use standard, evidence-based methods to examine your progress. But we take your subjective opinion about how you feel to heart as another true benchmark. 

Using standardized questions, we ask how you feel about a return to work, driving and enjoying social connections again. These are important indicators that bring your successful concussion treatment to life.