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Patient Instructions

Your child has a concussion, a mild brain injury. It can affect how your child’s brain works for a while. It may also have made your child lose consciousness for a while. Your child may have a bad headache.

Below are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse to help you take care of your child's concussion.

What type of symptoms or problems will my child have?

• Will my child have problems thinking or remembering?
• How long will these problems last?
• Will all the symptoms and problems go away?

Does someone need to stay with my child?

• For how long?
• Is it okay for my child to go to sleep?
• Does someone need to wake my child up when they are sleeping?

What type of activity can my child do?

• Does my child need to stay in bed or lie down?
• Can my child play around the house?
• When can my child begin to exercise? How about contact sports, such as football and soccer? When can my child go skiing or snowboarding?
• Does my child need to wear a helmet?

How can I prevent head injuries in the future?

• Does my child have the right kind of car seat?
• In what sports should my child always wear a helmet?
• Are there sports should child should never play?
• How can I make my home safer?

When can my child go back to school?

• Are my child’s teachers the only school people I should tell about my child’s concussion?
• Can my child stay for a full day?
• Will my child need to rest during the day?
• What about recess and gym class?
• How will the concussion affect my child's schoolwork?

What drugs can my child use for any pain or headache? Are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or other similar drugs okay?

Is it okay for my child to eat? Will my child feel sick to their stomach?

Do I need a follow-up appointment?

When should I call the doctor?

What to ask your doctor about concussion - child; Brain injury - mild - what to ask your doctor - child

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.