Concussion Clinic

Concussion Care

At MUSC Children's Health, our concussion care team is focused on evaluating and treating children and adolescents who have experienced a head or brain injury and have sustained a concussion. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to your child and family through a multi-faceted approach to treatment. Members of our team are experts in their field and are knowledgeable of the latest research and most technologically advanced care for concussions.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is caused by an injury to the head, such as a hit, jolt or blow to the head, which causes the brain to move around or out of place in the skull, damaging brain cells. It can occur in everyday life, and is not limited to a sports injury, a car accident or a fall.

A concussion is a type of brain injury that can affect normal brain function. This may include academic performance, athletics, everyday play, sleep, emotions, behaviors and even appetite. Whether a concussion causes a loss of consciousness or not, the effects can be very serious. Remember that less than 1 in 10 people with concussion lose consciousness on impact.

When do I seek treatment for my child?

If your child or teen shows or reports even one of the following signs and symptoms following an injury to the head, it's important to seek medical treatment:

• Headache or "pressure" in head
• Neck pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Bothered by light or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Confusion, concentration or memory problems
• Just not "feeling right," or "feeling down"

What happens during our visit?

During your child's initial visit to the Concussion Clinic, your child will receive an assessment by a team of the following pediatric experts:

• Pediatric Neurology Physician Assistant
• Neuro-Cognitive Therapist/Speech-Language Pathologist
• Physical Therapist

The initial assessment takes approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours and will include a history and physical, vestibular testing, review of physical abilities and challenges, and the assessment of your child's ocular-motor system and balance.

Following the initial assessment, additional support team members may be recommended to assess your child's level of functioning in various areas and/or to develop a treatment plan. This is to ensure that your child returns to normal levels of functioning and all issues have been addressed. Our care team works very closely with the child's school in developing a plan for return to school as well as ensuring accommodations are made within the school setting to achieve optimal educational performance. These additional team members may include:

• Pediatric Neuropsychologist
• Physical Therapist
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Pediatric Neurologist
• Occupational Therapist