Concussions are a common type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that disrupts normal brain function. While the effects of concussion have been extensively studied in older children, teenagers, and adults, little is known about how concussion affects children under the age of six—even though this age group has the highest rate of concussion of any population. This project addresses an important gap in knowledge by studying how concussion symptoms develop and change over time in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Because young children often cannot clearly describe how they are feeling or what they experience after injury, this study will use measures and tools that are appropriate for young children so that we can directly and reliably observe their behavior and skills after the concussion and determine whether they have any difficulties. Specifically, children with concussion will be recruited from emergency departments across Canada and will be followed across a three month period during which we will evaluate their nonverbal communication, emotional responses, behavior, and distress and compare these outcomes to children who do not have brain injury. This research will provide a detailed picture of how concussion symptoms and consequences evolve during the months following injury in young children. By improving understanding of concussion recovery in early childhood, the study will help healthcare professionals identify children who may need additional monitoring and support.
Partners & Donors
Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research
