Who is at risk of Persistent Post Concussion Symptoms?

Here, you can find the CDC mTBI recommendations related to prognosis, assessment of the pre-morbid history, and tools to track recovery. These are all captured within the Heads Up App.

• Counsel patients and families that most (70% - 80%) children with mTBI do not show significant difficulties that last more than 1 to 3 months after injury  
• Each child’s recovery from mTBI is unique and will follow its own trajectory 
• Pre-morbid history can assist in determining prognosis 

Healthcare professionals should screen for known risk factors for persistent symptoms in children with mTBI, such as:

• Pre-morbid history of mTBI or Learning Disorders
• Lower cognitive ability (for children with an intracranial lesion)
• Neurological or psychiatric disorder
• Increased pre-injury symptoms (ie, similar to those often referred to as “postconcussive”)
• Family and social stressors

Healthcare professionals should use a combination of tools to assess recovery in children with mTBI, including:

•  validated symptom scales (can be downloaded from Useful Forms and Templates
•  validated cognitive testing (through the QPRS mTBI and Complex Concussion Clinic) 
•  balance testing (through QPRS or a physiotherapist) 

• For children with mTBI whose symptoms do not resolve as expected with standard care (ie, within 4 - 6 weeks), healthcare professionals should provide or refer for appropriate assessments and/or interventions