Young People and Concussions

Recently, Hockey Nova Scotia moved to decrease the probability of significant head injury in young people playing Canada’s game.  This type of regulatory progress is to be applauded and needs to be paired with increased educational activities designed to inform youth, parents, coaches, educators and health providers about concussions.  Even with the best available equipment and most appropriately designed rules pertaining to body contact in hockey and other sports, accidents can happen and brain injury can occur.  Everyone needs to be informed about the signs and symptoms of concussions and be aware that even a seemingly inconsequential “whack on the head” can lead to life altering concussion.

Benjamin Gray’s poignant story as reported by the Chronicle Herald (May 14, 2013), is an excellent example of how print media can participate in raising public awareness of this important issue, and Benjamin is to be applauded for his courage in sharing his personal and challenging journey with his brain injury.  His story is instructive while he describes a culture of personal and peer expectations to continue playing even when he knew he was not a 100 percent ready to return.  He shares his personal struggles with some of the negative emotional, cognitive and behavioral outcomes that could stem from concussions. He raises awareness that the path to recovery from a brain injury can be long, arduous and challenging for young people and their families alike.

His story also points to a very important lesson.  While we may not be able to prevent all concussions, we are able to properly react if a concussion happens.  This includes knowing about the signs and symptoms of concussion and what to do to help recover from the effects of the brain injury.  We now have a much better understanding of what needs to be done along the path of “return to play”.  And youth, parents, coaches, educators and health providers need to understand what to do and how to work collaboratively to ensure that young people do not return too quickly.

Less well appreciated is the importance of understanding the process of “return to learn”.  As Benjamin’s story illustrates, concussions can have significant and substantial negative impacts on a young person’s ability to successfully navigate the academic and social challenges at school.  We need to do a better job at educating young people, parents, coaches, educators and health providers at what to expect and how to help during the “return to learn journey”.

Recently, our team has created and made freely available information designed for youth and for parents, coaches and educators that help with understanding brain injury in young people and how to best ensure that return to play and return to learn are applied in the best interests of a healthy recovery.  Bringing together effective methods of preventing concussions and providing education about what can be done if a concussion does happen may help decrease the burden on young people, families and communities that brain injuries take.  Thank you Benjamin for helping us move in this direction.

Youth Brain Injury Guide: A guide to help youth understand the affects of brain injury

Brain Injury in Adolescence A guide for young people, coaches, educators and those that work with youth

- Stan