The topic of discussion this week was about the mechanisms underlying concussions and the many side effects that they can produce. The mechanical force of a blow to the head can cause chemical changes in the brain and alterations in signalling. These alterations can include influxes of calcium within cells that cause disruptions in metabolic functions that can cause permanent damages to cognitive functioning and memory systems.
The most heated area of discussion regarding concussions is in the area of professional sports and how to deal with athletes returning to play. However, an area that may hit a lot closer to home is concussions among elementary school aged children. Some elementary schools now send notes home from the nurse’s office if children fall on the playground or seemingly knock their head too hard. While these measures are safeguards for parents to know what to look for in their children when they come home, the extremities of the measures that now days need to be taken may be seen as a little extreme. Nonetheless, concussions among elementary aged is an interesting and important topic during those formative years.
According to guides that are published by various school districts for educators, elementary kids are more likely to report physical problems or cognitive problems relating to anxiety or stress after an accident that may be due to a concussion. The key to this then is to collaborate with school teachers, nurses, playground staff, and parents to understand the nature of the injury and to help with recovery and improving cognitive learning side effects. Some classic symptoms that teachers can look for are students that get tired in class, are bothered by noise or light, easily distracted, trouble learning new material, problems with memory, or being easily overwhelmed with information. Teachers can help students during the time of experiencing cognitive difficulties by adapting classroom material, giving more time for assignments and tests, providing easier transitions, and allowing students to work in more quiet settings.
An understanding of these symptoms to look for and ways that they can aid in student recovery is important even for teachers of young children.
Concussions in Elementary School Children
