A group of Canadian researchers recently recommended that we start calling concussion by its other name “Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.” They argue that there is too much confusion associated with the word concussion and that saying “an athlete had a concussion” implies a less severe injury than saying “the athlete suffered a mild traumatic brain injury.” In their study that looked at children admitted to a hospital with a brain injury. The children who were diagnosed with concussion were released sooner, returned to school and to play sooner regardless of the severity of the injury. Part of the rationale for the recommended change is that by including the word “brain” in the diagnosis it will help people better understand why we need to take these injuries seriously.
I agree that it is important for people to understand that when an athlete suffers a concussion the injury needs to be taken seriously; however, I am not convinced that changing the name is the right approach. When an issue gets as much media coverage as sports concussion does it is inevitable that there will be some misunderstanding as lay people (including the media) misuse and oversimplify the word. However, if we continue to change what we call things every time this occurs we will be left with obsolete terms that people will continue to use and the confusion will increase. I think that the approach we, in the professional community, need to take is to make sure we help educate people about the real meaning and the real danger of concussion. As part of this process, we need to write, or call, the media when they misuse or oversimplify the word concussion. At the Center for Human Potential we will also be working to provide free public education about concussion. There is also great information available on the ImPACT website and on the CDC website.
