Concussion?
Bump to the Head?
Whiplash?
You Can Make Your Brain Better
We have extensive experience with concussions
—
We help people get their brain working again
But my brain scan (or doctor) indicated I was fine
It’s not unusual for someone who’s been hit on the head and had an MRI or PET scan to be told they’re “fine,” when they’re not. Almost never are they informed they could experience symptoms up to 18 months later. These might be new symptoms or ones they’ve always had that the concussion exacerbated.
Subtle damage to the brain can’t be identified with standard imaging. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be more revealing of concussion effects, but few medical facilities have this equipment, and if they do they rarely offer it for concussion diagnosis.
Wondering…”Could I have had a concussion?”
Click here to answer some questions
If you have had any of these events, even if you think it wasn’t a “big deal,” you could have had a concussion. Concussion symptoms may appear 3-24 months after the event. This time delay is one of the reasons a concussion often is overlooked as the cause.
- You were involved in a car wreck that caused a whiplash.
- You were hit hard in the head by a person or object.
- You hit your head as the result of a fall.
- You bumped your head very hard.
- You experienced emotional, cognitive or behavioral changes within 24 months following the event, such as being more anxious, more forgetful or having mood swings.
- Others tell you your personality has changed, that you’re “different” since the accident.
- You experienced unconsciousness (if only for a few seconds).
- You had a long surgery with multiple hours “being under” or difficulty awakening after being under general anesthesia. (Some neuropsychologists consider general anesthesia to be the equivalent of a concussion in certain cases).
- You were exposed to heavy-duty chemicals/pesticides or other substances that impacted you cognitively or neurologically (even if only temporarily).
Hide
What if it wasn’t a concussion?
Not all bumps to the head are concussions, but they can still result in concussion-type symptoms and need to be taken seriously.
Isn’t there something my doctor can do?
After the initial treatment, such as putting in stitches and suggesting you ice your injury and get plenty of rest, there’s nothing in the medical toolbox that goes beyond treating symptoms.
Concussions are cumulative.
You may not notice changes after a single incident, but after two or three, there’s a higher chance of problems.
I’m being told I’m just “making excuses” for my emotions and behavior or I’m lazy.
Why am I struggling so much with decision-making, planning, time management, and getting stuff done?
Your frontal lobe is responsible for all these “executive functions” and is one of the most vulnerable areas of your brain when you hit your head. It’s often injured in a concussion and is the reason so many competent people are having struggles they weren’t having before. Often, no one around them understands, especially because these symptoms might occur months later, making it difficult to make the connection.
What can the Center for Brain Training do to help my brain?
We offer a concussion program designed to help your brain repair itself, not just alleviate symptoms temporarily as medication does.
This includes:
- Neurofeedback to strengthen the neurological circuits disrupted by the concussion
- Several brain stimulation technologies designed to encourage your brain to improve its functioning
- A unique technology (our “brain gym”) to boost oxygen to the brain, reducing concussion symptoms
- An optional brain map to help determine whether a new or old brain injury may be having an impact on behavior and other emotional changes
- Special dietary supplements, including probiotics and prebiotics
- Suggested dietary changes that address the gut-brain axis or have anti-inflammatory benefits
To learn about the experiences of some people with post-concussion issues who came to us for help, click here.
Michael P. Cohen – Director, Center for Brain Training
Michael Cohen has specialized in applied psychophysiology and EEG biofeedback since 1996 and in qEEG brain mapping since 2001. Throughout his career Mike has created and taught both beginner and advanced neurofeedback courses to more than 2,500 physicians, psychologists and therapists in North America and around the world. Read more about Mike.