Until recent years, clinical studies of concussions in children focused upon the immediate event. An injured child would be observed until his or her severe symptoms had cleared. At that point, normal activity could be resumed.
Surprisingly little is known about possible long-term consequences of concussions that occur during pre-adolescent years. Most studies have concluded that children recover quickly from injury with few lasting effects. But one report last year used follow-up interviews by telephone to determine that almost 12 percent of children evaluated for concussion in an emergency room still had symptoms three months later. Other recent studies uncovered persistent changes in memory and behavior in children who had suffered a concussion.
Clif CleavelandA January 2016 report in the International Journal of Psychophysiology provides fresh insights into lasting changes in brain function that occur in children who sustained concussions.
Fifteen children, average age of 9 and each with a carefully documented history of concussions that occurred during recreational activities, were paired with 15 similarly active children without injuries. The concussions took place on average two years prior to testing. Eight of the injured children had briefly lost consciousness at the time they were hurt.
All the children performed a battery of tests that measured attention, decision-making, working memory and impulse control. Tests that measured impulse control and visual attention were supplemented by simultaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring of brain activity.