Many Children with Symptoms of Brain Injuries and Concussions are Missing out on Vital Checks
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Almost a quarter of US children with symptoms of a brain injury or concussion are not checked for the condition , with younger children particularly likely to be overlooked , a new national study finds .
The peer-reviewed US research , which is published in the journal Brain Injury , also shows that children with symptoms or a diagnosis of a brain injury or concussion were more likely to have symptoms of depression than other youngsters . They also found it harder to make friends .
Routine checks would help ensure such children receive the care that they need , says lead researcher Priyanka Ramulu , who became interested in the topic after suffering a concussion in a car accident when she was 15 .
She carried out the research while at high school in Maryland and is now studying neuroscience at Duke University .
“ Head injuries from sports , car accidents , falls and other types of blows to the head can be more serious in children than in adults