The Effect Concussions Have on Grades
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Sustaining a concussion is obviously not healthy for the developing brain of our kids, but a recent study finds children and teenagers who sustain a concussion while participating in sports could also affect their academic performance.
In a study done by the Children’s National Health System, researchers found that as many as 88% of high school, middle school, and elementary school students who had sustained concussions, also had academic problems within four weeks of sustaining the injury.
How Do You Know If You Have A Concussion?
You can look for these signs of a concussion:
• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or Balance problems
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Sensitive to light or noise
• Confusion
• Feeling “out of it” or “in a fog”
• Memory Loss
• Blurred vision
Usually, these symptoms of a concussion follow a direct impact to the head or a whiplash type injury to the head and neck. It is always advised to seek medical care if you think you have a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion can begin with mild symptoms and can progress quickly.
Concussion and grades
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, focused on 349 kindergarten through high school students, who had sustained a concussion. It included students who were recovering, some no longer feeling effects and others still experiencing symptoms.
Were the grades affected by concussions? Students were asked about the types of problems that they were experiencing in school since their brain injuries. Some of the most common complaints impacting school performance were headaches interfering with concentration, problems paying attention; feeling tired, and diminished academic skill. Almost 8% of the student’s reports that their school work was negatively impacted in some way since they sustained an injury.
Parents of the students were also surveyed about the impact on the student’s academic efforts, or the effect concussions have on grades. 67% of parents reported that they were “very concerned” with the impact of their post-concussive symptoms impact on their children’s grades. Math class was reported as the most problematic subject consistently across grade levels. This was followed by reading/language arts, science and then social studies.
One potential explanation for the impact on a student’s grades under a concussion is that the physical environment of the school itself can cause an increase in post-concussion symptoms. The school environment with bright lights, computer screens, power points, and noisy environments also tends to exacerbate symptoms and are not tolerated well.
How Long Does A Concussion Last?
The length of time it takes to recover from a concussion depends on many factors. The first is the grade or severity of the concussion. The second aspect that relates to the recovery time is how many concussions the person has had before. The last aspect which affect the recovery time is how much rest or stimuli has the person had after the concussion. To learn more about concussions, please go to the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute Concussion Center.
This is a potential explanation for the impact on students. Because of this, the clinicians with the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute concussion program recommend a period of brain rest and academic modifications following a concussion.
Academic Accommodations
These academic accommodations for concussion’s effect on grades help provide a balance between promoting recovery from the brain injury by reducing the student’s cognitive load, while at the same time preventing him or her from falling too far behind in the classroom.
Initially, it may be necessary for the injured athlete to stay home from school for a few days or potentially return to a reduced class schedule until the athlete has fully recovered. Upon return to school, it is often necessary for the school to reduce some of the work requirements or allow the student more time to complete assignments.
Providing the student class notes ahead of time, limiting screen and computer time and allowing breaks as needed are also ways to reduce cognitive load and help the student transition back to a normal classroom workload following a concussion. Decreasing the stress on the brain and not allowing the athlete to push through symptoms may shorten the recovery time.
To schedule for physical therapy after a concussion, please call 904-858-7045.
Related Articles: Concussions in Sports and The JOI Concussion Center.
If you have further questions about grades and concussions or the management of your student-athlete who has sustained a concussion, please feel free to ask your JOI healthcare professional.
Dr. Yorio at JOI San Marco is a concussion specialist. Please call 904-JOI-2000 or schedule online or click below.