Concussions in Youth Sports

Experiencing multiple concussions while playing youth sports increases the risk of mental health issues into adulthood. This increased awareness with scientific data supporting the severity of concussion in our youth; multiple times, links decreased memory and brain function as an adult for the individuals. Incomplete recoveries are typical among children because they go undiagnosed by an individual, coach, parent, and an Emergency Room physician. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a public health issue because it affects children directly, affecting their future in life. Concussions no longer must be part of the sport. An invisible risk people are willing to take for the game. Traumatic brain injuries are a structural disease, not a mental illness, negatively affecting the brain. When an individual displays depression, dementia, or suicide, it is a structural defect, not a mental illness caused by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Legislation passed sports concussion policies and laws for youth athletics in both private and public schools. These requirements are a starting point for coaches, players, and parents to educate themselves on the risk of participating in sports with brain injuries