Skip to Content
About Brain Injury

Common Symptoms of Concussion

Symptoms of concussion can range from being hard-to-see to quite obvious. The general signs of concussion include:

  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Blurred Vision
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Slurred Speech
  • Appearing Dazed, Confused
  • Ringing in the Ears
  • Delayed Response to Questions
  • Loss on Consciousness

Following a concussion, one may feel or demonstrate a variety of cognitive, physical, emotional, and/or sleep issues.

Cognitive
Physical Emotional Sleep
In a “fog”; can’t think clearly Headache Sad Sleeping more
Can’t follow conversations Post-traumatic amnesia
(can’t recall injury)
Easily irritated Trouble falling asleep
Trouble with attention/concentration Nausea Anxious Not sleeping soundly
Difficulty learning new information Dizziness More emotional than usual Sleep cycle disturbed
Word finding problems Sensitivity to light/sound Changes in personality Not feeling rested after sleep
Slowed reaction times Fatigue More impulsive  

When to Seek Medical Attention

Health care professionals recommend individuals contact their physician, emergency medical services (EMS), or go to the nearest emergency department immediately if someone sustains a bump, blow, or jolt to the head and has these symptoms:

  • A headache that gets worse and does not go away;
  • Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination;
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea;
  • Slurred speech;
  • Drowsiness or cannot be awakened;
  • One pupil is larger than the other;
  • Convulsions or seizures;
  • Does not recognize people or places;
  • Get increasingly confused, restless, or agitated;
  • Unusual behavior; and/or
  • Loss of consciousness.

Symptoms may vary, and each individual may experience them somewhat differently. A concussion can impact physical well-being, thinking (cognitive) skills, behaviors and emotions, and even sleep patterns.

Join our community and get a copy of our guide: What to Expect After Brain Injury

Living with a brain injury can require many different types of resources, strategies, and supports, the range of which can be tremendous. Sign up to join our monthly newsletter, and in addition to receiving news and resources from the brain injury community, we’ll give you a free copy of our guide: What to Expect After Brain Injury. This is guide can help survivors and caregivers navigate life post-injury.

Download the guide

Sign Up to Join Our Community!

Enter your name and email to receive a free copy of our What to Expect After Brain Injury Guide.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.