Study Concussions do not lower children’s IQ.

Study Concussions do not lower children's IQ.

No Evidence that Concussions Affect Children’s IQ, Study Finds

If your child has ever taken a knock to the head on the playing field, a recent study has some good news: there is no evidence that a concussion affects a child’s IQ¹. The study, published in Pediatrics, compared children and teens who had suffered broken bones or sprained ankles with those who had recently experienced a concussion². The researchers found that the kids with concussions performed just as well on IQ tests up to three months after the head injury³. This study offers reassurance to worried parents and young people who have suffered a blow to the head in sports, play, or accidents⁴.

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain gets jostled around in the skull, resulting in symptoms such as headache, confusion, dizziness, and a general feeling of being unwell⁵. While it is well known that severe brain trauma can have long-term effects on intellectual functioning, research on the impact of concussions has been inconclusive⁶. Previous studies have often been limited in size or compared concussed kids to perfectly healthy peers, overlooking the fact that children who sustain a concussion may differ from their peers in various ways⁷. These children may be more impulsive or more likely to have attention problems, in addition to experiencing the stress of being injured and unable to participate in their usual activities⁸.

The latest study, conducted on a large scale, compared 866 children aged 8 to 17 who visited emergency rooms in the United States and Canada for either a concussion or an orthopedic injury⁹. The results showed that the kids with concussions had similar IQ scores to those with orthopedic injuries, both shortly after the injury and three months later¹⁰. The average IQ scores, including subtests of vocabulary and reasoning, were within the normal range for both groups¹¹. Interestingly, even children with a history of previous concussions or those experiencing more severe symptoms did not show any negative impact on their IQ test performance¹².

The strengths of this study lie in its large sample size and the inclusion of a group of similar children for comparison¹³. According to Talin Babikian, a clinical neuropsychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, this is what sets this study apart from previous research¹⁴. Health care providers with experience managing concussions have long known that most children with a single, uncomplicated concussion recover fully¹⁵. The challenge lies in combating the anxiety triggered by misinformation, as even a single study suggesting long-term cognitive problems can lead to unnecessary worry and a self-fulfilling prophecy¹⁶.

Anxiety and worry are understandably high among parents and teenagers following a head injury, but both Ware and Babikian hope that the new findings can help alleviate some of these concerns¹⁷. It’s important to recognize that while some lingering symptoms, such as headaches, concentration problems, or mood disturbances, may persist after a concussion, they are not necessarily a direct result of the concussion itself¹⁸. These symptoms can arise from disruptions to a child’s daily life or the trauma of the incident that caused the head injury¹⁹. Addressing any persistent symptoms is crucial, but attributing them solely to the concussion may not be accurate or helpful²⁰.

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In terms of managing concussions, medical advice has evolved over the years²¹. Formerly, doctors would advise children to avoid physical or mental activity until all symptoms subsided²². However, it is now understood that gradually reintroducing children to their normal daily routines, including light exercise, is part of the recovery process²³. Restoring a sense of normalcy and maintaining good sleep habits aid in the recovery from concussions²⁴.

In summary, the latest study provides reassuring news for parents and young people concerned about the consequences of concussions on cognitive abilities²⁵. It highlights that children with concussions perform just as well on IQ tests as those with orthopedic injuries, even when they have had previous concussions or more severe symptoms²⁶. The findings underscore the importance of managing concussions appropriately, gradually reintroducing children to their regular activities, and addressing any persistent symptoms with personalized care²⁷. By dispelling the misinformation and anxiety surrounding concussions, this research can bring much-needed peace of mind to families dealing with these injuries.

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