Awareness of brain injuries rises

The Vancover Sun

Cherri Hanson

May 30,2015

Head trauma leading to a concussion (injury to the brain) is such a common injury that we have a variety of colloquial expressions to describe it. However, behind colourful phrases like having your bell rung, your brain rattled, or your eggs scrambled, is a potentially dangerous truth. Even minor head and brain trauma can create serious, lifelong complications — a scenario most recently illustrated by hockey superstar Sidney Crosby and his battle with multiple, career-threatening concussions.

Perhaps the only silver lining in Crosby’s high-profile injuries is a growing understanding that any head trauma, from mild to severe, poses health risks. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability and less severe injury can cause symptoms that range from temporary to permanent, including memory loss, vision and hearing problems, impaired thinking, and personality or emotional changes.

Children who play contact sports or experience a blow to the head can be at significant risk. According to Parachute Canada, thirty per cent of all traumatic brain injuries are sustained by children and youth, often during sports and recreation.