<p>My DS suffered a concussion earlier this year at the age of 13. He recovered and seems fine, but now that he's playing on his high-school soccer team I am very, very nervous about him having another one. He is quite bright, gets good grades and test scores, and is interested in a career in science/medicine. Still, I worry. Incidentally, he did not get the concussion playing soccer but was careless and tripped while playing. </p>
<p>Anyone have a DS or DD who doesn't seem to have any ill effects from concussion? Not looking for horror stories--PLEASE. I generate enough of those in my own imagination. Just want reassurance that my kid will still be able to have that brilliant academic career he dreams of. :)</p>
<p>OP,
I’m so sorry about your S and totally relate to your concerns. My D had a skull fracture with bleeding on the brain at a very young age, and went to Harvard. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>S suffered a concussion at age 12 after being knocked to the floor and having someone land on his head during a basketball game. He was very confused for several days, and for about 2 weeks couldn’t do ANYTHING - even listening to music hurt his head. It was a few more weeks before he could do schoolwork - thankfully the incident occurred 2 weeks before Christmas vacation so he was able to recover without missing too much school.</p>
<p>He is now 16, taking multiple AP classes, in the top 10% of his class at a very competitive high school, scoring in the top 3% of the country on standardized exams, competing in Model UN, finishing up a substantial Eagle Scout project, and still finds time to read for pleasure.</p>
<p>Most of the horror stories you hear are related to multiple concussions - and especially multiple concussions where each injury is not given sufficient time to heal (length of recovery typically increases for subsequent concussions). I understand the worry about him receiving another concussion playing soccer - but he can’t live his life in a bubble. Especially given the circumstances of the concussion, it goes to show that even the simplest activity can lead to unexpected injury.</p>
<p>If he shows no residual effects, then he is fine. If something happens and he is injured again, just be sure to give PLENTY of time for recovery. Best of luck to you and him!</p>
<p>I suffered a concussion after a car accident when I was younger. Can’t exactly remember how old I was- probably 2nd or 3rd grade. I had a 3.8+ in a top 100 university for undergrad and now have a 3.95 in grad school at a top 3 program. </p>
<p>If the doctors say no permanent damage, I’d believe them. It’s multiple concussions you have to worry about. </p>
<p>Thanks, all! I don’t know if docs can ever definitively say there is no permanent damage, because couldn’t some results be so subtle as to not show up for years? In any case, I know I can’t waste time worrying about the past. In fact, I was injured myself at about age 9 at a friend’s house when my head hit the cement basement floor. All I remembered was getting up and crying. When we were in our 30s, she told me that I actually hadn’t woken up instantaneously. Concussion? Probably. And I have degrees from great schools.</p>
<p>I know how you feel. Yes, it is frightening and one is likely never to know what ramifications that concussion has had. I have a number of older kids, all athletes, all active in football and other such sports, and I know a number of their peers who had concussions, and yes, all doing well. Haven’t heard of one who is down and out, or had other problems. The kids I know who have had the most problems are not from that group, though I can’t be 100%sure they did not have concussions or any such problems.</p>
<p>@lauriejigs, so sorry to hear about your son’s injury and your worry. I just read your OP to my dh (he’s a pediatric specialist - not a neuro, though) and he agrees that, as long as he’s recovered, your son should be fine to continue his sport, and able to perform well in school. The recovery period is important for children and adults. I’m concerned about a co-worker who hasn’t seemed quite right for months following a concussion. But she has done nothing to rest her brain - she immediately continued her full, very active schedule. She seems more forgetful and less able to pay attention than before the injury. </p>
<p>My middle d suffered a concussion at the age of 3. Since she was a toddler, she had a nice recovery period and later went on to academic success and good schools. Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>My D2 suffered two grade III concussions while playing soccer. The second one resulted in headaches and trouble focusing in school for 8 months. At that point, she quit competitive club soccer and shortly after that, missed her senior year of school soccer. A neurologist had told her to never head the ball again, but as an aggressive defender, she just couldn’t seem to avoid acting on instinct and years and years of training.</p>
<p>She is a junior in college and so far, so good. She is carrying a 3.85, has amassed a few honors and seems fine. She is a good student and very bright, but she wasn’t elite school material before her concussions, so I can’t address that part of your question.</p>
<p>I do wish I could go back in time and erase history.</p>
<p>Your son should be okay. Soccer is one of the worst sports for concussions. If it happens again, it may be time for a serious discussion about his future in the sport.</p>
<p>II know intuitively, you know that you shouldn’t worry about things that you can’t control. My DD (a HS Senior) has gotten 2 concussions in competitve cheer. She attends a top ten HS and is laser focused on some heady engineering schools for next fall. Because of her skill set, she will likely make the Cheer programs of her top two choices. At any time (she’s in training for about 8 mos/year) she can get another. But it’s part of her make up. She knows she may quit but not yet. Her mom and I are settled w/this fact. Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>I don’t know about “brilliant” - jury is still out - but my son had two concussions in his football career. One in middle school and one in high school where he was out freshman year for 6 weeks. Football helped a lot with his college admission but he is still a freshman today at a top university. Just make sure that after the concussion you don’t let your child mess around with the recovery and do too much too soon. Pay attention to the list of restrictions even if it means no screen time, no headphones, dark rooms, even not attending class. It’s hard for an athlete but so important to let that brain heal back up. Your kid can be their own worst enemy.</p>
<p>My brother had one at 14. He’s perfectly fine. Over the years he’s earned 3 different college degrees. He was an officer in the military and retired with a pension, and since then he’s started another career and is working toward a 2nd pension. I haven’t noticed any ill effects at all. I know it’s tough not to worry though. Good luck.</p>
<p>My niece had a concussion early in her college career. It was sports-related. She is in medical school now. I understand how worrying it can be, and send all best wishes your way.</p>
<p>Agree with the above that the injured person CAREFULLY follow all the restrictions by the MD and rest appropriately and avoid having future concussions. I know only one person who had a LOT of problems from his multiple concussions. He has post-concussion syndrome because he had concussions from age 12 on and a lot when he was playing college soccer. It seems to have been a cumulative issue that took it’s toll. He still graduated from Dartmouth but was not allowed to play soccer the last two years he was there due to all his concussions.</p>
<p>“Anyone’s kid ever have a concussion and go on to a brilliant college career?”</p>
<p>Well, he’s only a freshman so far, so we’ll have to see how brilliant his college career turns out, but my younger son suffered two concussions in high school, and had neurosurgery some years before that, and he’s at Harvard.</p>
<p>My S got a concussion playing soccer and recovered fully and quickly. Unfortunately, my D also recently suffered a concussion in her first semester at college. I’m concerned because, as someone mentioned, I’m afraid she may be her own worst enemy. She’s anxious about falling behind in school and missing out on activities with friends. </p>
<p>Just so you know, most students do not have a “brilliant college career”. (That’s even the case for one of mine, who was one of the very top students in her ms. ) Try not to fret too much. It sounds like he has time to heal.</p>
<p>Note - I do know a hs student that passed out at nurses’s office and slammed her head. She had a serious concussion, with severe symptoms initially. After she could do most things, she still could not resume piano. But lo and behold, by the next year she was fully back to normal.</p>
and later went on to academic success and good schools. Best of luck to your son.</p>