Certain types of TBI may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's or another type of dementia years after the injury takes place. A traumatic brain injury's direct effects - which may be long-lasting or even permanent - can include unconsciousness, inability to recall the traumatic event, depression, confusion, difficulty learning and remembering new information, trouble speaking coherently, unsteadiness, lack of coordination and problems with vision or hearing. TBI resulting from an impact to the head disrupts normal brain function and is a threat to cognitive health in two ways: These secondary brain injuries are the result of reactive processes that occur after the initial head trauma. Other outcomes of TBI can be secondary - they can occur gradually over hours or days, or appear weeks later. Some of these injuries are considered primary - damage and symptoms are immediate. Although most TBIs are classified as mild because they're not life-threatening, a mild TBI can have serious and long-lasting effects the extent of these effects is not fully understood and requires more research. Doctors may classify traumatic brain injury as mild, moderate or severe, depending on whether the injury causes unconsciousness, how long unconsciousness lasts and the severity of the individual's symptoms. For example, past injuries to the face or neck may have been accompanied by an unrecognized concussion.Most TBIs are caused by falls, being struck by an object or by vehicle crashes. In addition, pre-season evaluations can help identify athletes who have had previous, unrecognized concussions and who are at risk for repeat concussions. If an athlete later has a concussion, post-injury tests can be compared to the baseline evaluation to measure the severity of the concussion and help doctors monitor healing. Before the sports season starts, each athlete takes a computerized test that measures brain functions, such as memory and reaction time. Baseline Evaluationsīecause it is difficult to determine when a concussion has fully healed, baseline neurocognitive evaluation is an important tool for assessing whether it is safe for an athlete to return to play. The American Academy of Neurology offers a similar recommendation, and stresses that doctors who clear athletes for return to sports should be trained in managing and assessing sports concussions. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that young athletes with concussions be evaluated and cleared by a doctor before returning to sports. Although it rarely happens, repeat concussion can cause permanent brain damage and even death. If you suffer a repeat concussion before your first concussion has healed, it may take much longer for your symptoms to resolve and you may have long-term problems, such as learning difficulties or chronic headaches. Getting back into the game too soon puts you at risk for another concussion. They are typically rectangle-shaped and may be used in a stand-alone device, or inserted in machines that resemble exercise equipment, like treadmills or stair steppers. Force plates are instruments that measure the forces of stepping, running, jumping and other actions. There are several balance tests your doctor might use, as well as more sophisticated force plate technology. 
Balance testing is a way for doctors to assess how well the part of the brain that controls movement is functioning.
Many athletes are unsteady on their feet for several days following a concussion. The testing provides valuable information on a range of mental functions, such as short-term and long-term memory, attention and concentration, problem-solving, and speech. This kind of assessment can be done using computerized tests, or during a session with a neuropsychologist. Neuropsychological testing helps to measure the effects of concussion on mental capabilities. Also, if your symptoms worsen over time, MRI and CT scans are important for guiding treatment. If the neurological examination indicates problems, such as trouble with your vision, your doctor will order imaging scans. As stated above, results from MRI and CT scans are most often normal in concussion patients, so these tests are not usually helpful in diagnosing the injury. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans provide doctors with detailed images of the skull and brain. A neurological examination for concussion.
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