How do doctors check for concussions? [Solved]

Underdog

If a person comes in to the hospital and they hit their head, how would a doctor check to see if they have suffered a concussion? Is it like a series of questions or they get an MRI? There isn't a concussion testing machine is there? Don't worry, it's for a story, no one is actually in trouble.

Edit: Additionally, would a broken nose and a mild concussion be reason enough to have to stay overnight at the hospital or would they let you go? It's in Canada if that makes any difference.

Esh

From WebMD. The diagnosis bit is on the second page.

That was like the second result on Google, by the way.

Underdog

Awesome. And I did google it but I guess I'm using the wrong word combinations. Then again, I should've just reached for webmd in the first place. Thanks.

Esh

Underdog wrote: »

Awesome. And I did google it but I guess I'm using the wrong word combinations. Then again, I should've just reached for webmd in the first place. Thanks.

I used your thread title. ; )

Underdog

Really? Because I used that first and all that seemed to pop up were other people asking that question. I still can't get the webmd page to pop up... Anyways, a question answered is question answered.

Esh

Underdog wrote: »

Really? Because I used that first and all that seemed to pop up were other people asking that question. I still can't get the webmd page to pop up... Anyways, a question answered is question answered.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=How+do+doctors+check+for+concussions%3F

to the first result...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070430002356AAadDh7

to the link in the "best answer"...

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/traumatic-brain-injury-concussion-overview

cabsy

For a mild concussion they won't give you a CT. A slightly more serious concussion, they pop you into the CT machine.

The part that wasn't really answered by WebMD :
Whether you get hospitalized overnight varies from hospital to hospital - I had a concussion where I was blind and bleeding from the ears and they didn't keep me overnight because my vision returned and I wasn't bleeding (this was after several hours of CT scans); I've had a concussion that was not nearly so severe but the EMTs let me fall asleep so the hospital massively overreacted to their fuckup and kept me overnight for observation. It will also depend a bit on if you have someone at home with you - SOP after a concussion is to wake the patient up every few hours to make sure they're still responsive and coherent, if you don't have someone who can do that they are more likely to hold you than they are if you have a person or persons who are willing to make sure you're not dying every 2-4 hours.

Underdog

Yes! Thank you, that was the final piece of the puzzle.