A concussion is a type of head injury that can occur during sports, recreation, or other physical activities. An estimated 2.5 million sports-related concussions occur each year, but the majority of these injuries go unreported. The consequences of not reporting a concussion can range from trivial annoyances to permanent disability.If someone has a head injury and cannot remember the day of the week or their name, they probably have experienced a concussion. Unfortunately, many people mistake common symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and nausea as a simple case of being "out of it" and decide not to report it as a concussion.But how can you tell if someone has a concussion? Here are some things to look for:

Have they lost consciousness?

If someone has a severe head injury, they may lose consciousness. When someone has been knocked out by a blow to the head, they are likely suffering from a traumatic brain injury. The loss of consciousness is also a sign of a more severe injury.If you suspect that someone has been knocked out by a blow to the head, get them to a hospital as soon as possible. If they are not breathing or have no pulse, they may be experiencing a cardiac arrest.Cardiac arrests are often fatal unless treated quickly with CPR and other advanced medical care. The only way to know if someone is having a cardiac arrest is to check their heart rate.

Watch for the "dead man's curve"

This curve is the point at which a person begins to lose voluntary control of their muscles. The curve is named after experiments in which researchers placed a person in a room with water at their knees and then slowly filled the room with water. The person became too paralyzed with fear to move as the water level reached their chest. The "dead man's curve" refers to the point at which a person is so overcome with fear that they cannot think or move.If a person has suffered a head injury and has not regained consciousness after a few minutes, they are likely in the "dead man's curve." If they do not regain consciousness after several hours or days, they have likely suffered a permanent disability.

Be on the lookout for seizures and tremors

If a person has sustained a head injury, they may experience seizures or tremors. If a person has a seizure, they will fall to the ground, be unresponsive, and have jerking movements. The jerking movements are called "myoclonus" and can occur in people who do not have epilepsy. Myoclonus may also be present in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.A person who has a post-concussive tremor may have severe nerve damage in their arm or leg. This type of tremor can be triggered by stress or by certain drugs. The person may also experience difficulty controlling the movement of their arm or leg.

Watch for signs of hearing loss

A person who has suffered a head injury may experience hearing loss. It is important to note that a loss of hearing often does not occur until several days after the injury. The ear is the most commonly injured area of the head, so people who have been in a car accident or who have been in a fight are more likely to sustain a hearing loss.If you suspect that someone has experienced a loss of hearing, they should be examined by a doctor.

Keep an eye on their balance

If someone has suffered a head injury, they may experience an imbalance. The person's balance may be affected on one side or they may become unsteady. A person who has been in a car accident or who has been in a fight is more likely to experience an imbalance.A person who has a balance deficit may experience dizziness and may be at risk of falling. The person should be examined by a doctor.

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