ConcussionClaim Desk
Symptoms · file CON-02

Concussion symptoms

Concussion symptoms can be physical, cognitive, emotional, or sleep-related. They may appear right away or become noticeable later, and they can change during recovery.

Reviewed October 15, 20264 minute read
01

Four useful buckets

Concussion symptom map schematic: physical, cognitive, sleep, and emotional buckets
Fig. 1 — The symptom map: physical, cognitive, sleep, and emotional buckets, with the example symptoms CDC materials list.
  • Physical — headache, dizziness, balance problems, light or noise sensitivity, nausea, and vision complaints are examples listed by CDC materials.
  • Cognitive — attention, memory, processing speed, or feeling slowed down can affect ordinary tasks.
  • Sleep — sleeping more or less, or trouble falling asleep.
  • Emotional — irritability, sadness, nervousness, or feeling more emotional can matter to the timeline.
02

Onset is evidence of timing, not a verdict

A symptom that appears hours after an event still belongs in the record. Write when it was first noticed, who noticed it, and whether it changed with activity or rest.