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GREENWICH, Conn. - A student whose concussion doesn't heal right can suffer hard-to-treat anxiety disorders, depression, memory problems and even a phobia of tests, says Dr. Frederick Nahm, a neurologist at Greenwich Hospital.
Nahm will tell parents how head injuries should be handled in a free talk, "Concussions: What You Need to Know," at Greenwich Hospital at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.
"These secondary complications, like anxiety disorders or a new phobia of tests, memory problems, depression, apathy, inattention and other behaviors are indelible and can be difficult to treat," Nahm said in a hospital release. "It's not something the student can control or work harder to fix because it's the result of an injured brain."
Students who suffer head injuries shouldn't return to normal activities without being treated by a doctor, Nahm said.
The immediate symptoms of a concussion include confusion, disorientation and unconsciousness. Sometimes, symptoms like headaches, dizziness and nausea may not show up for a few days after the student bangs his or head head, Nahm says.
"The most important thing with a head injury, if you feel as though you're having symptoms you have to tell someone and seek evaluation," Nahm says. "A thorough treatment plan focuses on the emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues that can arise following even a mild brain injury."
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