Is it ADD or a Sports-Related Brain Injury?

Blog-Is it ADD or a Sports-Related Brain Injury

Comprised of around 80% water, the brain is very soft, with a consistency similar to soft butter or custard. It’s protected by a hard skull and surrounded by fluid, yet there are many bony edges and ridges inside the skull; some of them as sharp as knives. These ridges can easily damage the brain during head trauma.

Sports & Your Brain

We must reiterate that your child’s brain was not created to withstand all the bell-ringers and hard knocks from tackle football, soccer headers, and hockey, among others.

If you love your child’s brain, and especially if you have a child with ADD or learning problems, please educate them about risk-prevention and if possible, don’t let them play these brain-injuring sports. The symptoms of a brain injury can be very similar to the symptoms of ADD or ADHD, therefore it’s most important to get a proper diagnosis when you notice that something is wrong.

Unquestionable Proof

Not only did we conduct the world’s largest study on brain damage in NFL players, more than 4,500 former players sued the NFL, seeking concussion-related compensation and alleging that the NFL concealed the risks of long-term brain damage. The settlement was $765 million dollars – yet the NFL will neither admit liability nor that the players’ injuries were caused by football.

From 2009-2012, Amen Clinics performed the world’s largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on active and retired professional football players because we had a high suspicion that many players suffered with the effects of chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The results of our NFL study were very clear:

• A very high percentage of our players had evidence of TBI patterns on their SPECT scans and showed symptoms of it – there was a high rate of depression, dementia, obesity, and ADD-like symptoms among them.

• 81% of the players complained of attention problems and showed concentration problems on the psychological testing that we performed.

The good news came from the second part of this study, where we taught players how to care for their brains and gave them specific nutritional supplements.

• 80% of our players experienced significant benefit, including improvements in mood, attention, motivation, and sleep.

This shows that even those who have suffered brain injury can still have hope – as there is a very high potential for recovery on a brain-smart program.

Treatment is Possible

Nobody knows exactly how many blows to the head it takes to cause problems, yet studies have shown that it takes longer for children to recover from a second concussion if it follows soon after a first, and that once someone has a concussion they’re more likely to experience more.

Many brain injuries go untreated because the person did not lose consciousness, so keep an eye out for these symptoms and seek medical attention right away if you suspect trauma:

• Feeling drowsy or having a hard time waking up.
• Not thinking clearly, feeling spacey, or acting confused.
• Headache or the feeling of pressure in the head.
• Memory and mood changes.

We Can Help

At Amen Clinics, we want to help you and your children heal brain injuries before they affect your life. Call us today at 888-288-9834, or tell us more about your concerns.

7 Comments »

  1. Several Brain Injuries and like info on help

    Comment by David Ring — June 11, 2018 @ 3:21 AM

  2. After reading about TBI and ADD. I have a question. My two year old grandson banging his head constantly on soft furniture, but when he is frustrated he throws himself on the floor and bangs his head. He often hits his head on furniture, he often bangs his head on tables. He is not talking yet and we think he may be developly delayed since he was a premie.

    Comment by Mary McKay — June 11, 2018 @ 3:50 AM

  3. Good morning, my 15yo daughter and I both suffer from these symptoms and have had brain injury. I have written before but coudn’t afford testing. I had to sell my home , can’t work b/c of our issues and will have some funds to do this… we are closer to NY but I would prefer and feel safer at your DC area location. Would it be possible to have Aliyah & I tested at the same time, by the end of August in DC area office?

    Thank you

    Comment by Anne Falls — June 11, 2018 @ 6:35 AM

  4. My son is 29, he was a patient at your clinic at age 9. He has participated in the sport of bullriding for the past 20 years. Starting with calf riding and moving up. He has expressed some concerns about these brain injuries. I’m interested in information on caring for the brain.

    Comment by Kathy — June 11, 2018 @ 9:57 AM

  5. My grandson (37) has had at least three head injuries that knocked him unconscious – at least one as a child. The more recent include an accident while on a toboggan in Canada, and a blow to the head by a surfboard in Costa Rica . He complains of not being able to focus or concentrate (but it could be the result of the medications he is on after being recently diagnosed as bi-polar.) He is taking Lamictal and Seroquel and may still have Invega (?) in his sysem from a shot given him May 1st. He is depressed and anxious. He had problems with obesity as a young adult, but changed his diet radically and lost 100 pounds entirely on his own. Generally speaking he is a very disciplined person, but is now unable to make himself do anything.

    Comment by Jane Wright — June 11, 2018 @ 10:33 AM

  6. Is there any financial assistance for those of us who cannot afford the cost of the Amen Clinic assessment

    Comment by Colmon Holmes — June 11, 2018 @ 10:33 AM

  7. I’m asking a similar question as Colmon above as my nephew and family is looking for financial support as well as some help locally even if we get to your clinic how do we get continued care here in Arizona. With the recent suicides of famous people it just emphasizes to me how important it is for my 30 year old nephew, historically division 1 linebacker, diagnosed with ADD and has many mental health issues.

    Thank you for any guidance.

    Comment by Roslynn — June 11, 2018 @ 3:53 PM

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