Concussion Comeback Plan ORTHO_130994_2017-05_Concussion Program Comeback B | Page 5

The truth about concussions Problems caused by concussions don’t last long. Most young people recover completely from a concussion within a couple of days to weeks. More rarely, problems last longer. Persistent problems can be related to the severity of the injury and to non-injury factors like stress. Students can go back to school even with symptoms. With the involvement of a healthcare provider, along with appropriate monitoring at school, the student may return to school even with some symptoms. Severe symptoms require additional medical follow-up. Keeping a child out of school for a long time often causes unintended academic, social and emotional problems. Complete rest isn’t necessary. In the first few days following a concussion, it may be helpful to reduce stimulation to help manage symptoms, but watching TV or texting won’t affect recovery. In fact, too much rest often does more harm than good. Temporary adjustments usually suffice. In the vast majority of cases, students do not need special education services after a concussion. Short-term, informal adjustments for academic support are usually enough. 5