Despite being relatively common occurrences, concussions are still widely misunderstood, with misconceptions about their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment potentially preventing people from seeking the care they need. To continue to narrow this knowledge gap, during Brain Injury Awareness Month, Concussion Awareness Now (CAN) set out to start the concussion conversation by busting concussion myths.

Connecting with Advocates at the National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day

In early March, CAN, along with a few coalition members, exhibited at the National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). We connected with brain injury advocates, including survivors, caretakers, and healthcare professionals, hearing from them and sharing information and resources. Watch our recap video.

Following the conference, BIAA released the findings from its first public opinion survey in over 25 years. So, what did the poll reveal? We have a lot of work to do to educate people about the realities of brain injury, including concussion. Findings include:

• Brain injury affects nearly 4 in 10 people, but fewer than 1 in 4 are asked about brain injury by healthcare providers.
• More than 8 in 10 adults are unaware that concussions are classified as traumatic brain injuries.
• Brain injury is seen by most people as a chronic health condition but not as an invisible or hidden disability.

Read more findings from BIAA’s new opinion poll.

Busting Concussion Myths by Spreading Concussion Facts

Throughout the month, CAN shared facts to dispel common myths about concussions through our social media channels. By raising awareness about these myths, we aim to fulfill our mission to create a reality where everyone receives the proper diagnosis and care, along with essential resources.

To close out the month, CAN hosted a “Busting Concussion Myths” webinar, where panelists Dr. Beth McQuiston, a neuroscientist and medical director for Global Neuroscience Research at Abbott; Dr. Drew Nagele, a neuropsychologist and board-certified rehabilitation psychologist who’s worked for over 40 years in brain injury rehabilitation; Katherine Snedaker, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Pink Concussions, a non-profit focused on awareness and advocacy around brain injury in women; and Kellie Pokrifka, a brain injury survivor and member of the Brain Injury Association of America’s Survivor Council, came together to compare the persistent concussion myths with the facts.

For the full recording of the webinar, head here. Below are just a few of the myths that were covered in the conversation:

Myth #1: Sports are the leading cause of brain injuries.

Many people assume that concussions primarily happen during sports activities. However, the reality is that falls are the leading cause of concussions. In fact, only 3 percent of concussions each year happen to athletes.

“Gravity is actually the biggest cause of concussions,” Dr. McQuiston said, pointing out that while certain age groups, particularly older adults, are more susceptible to falls, anyone can fall at any time.

The good news is that many fall-related concussions are preventable. Simple measures, such as installing grab bars in showers, using secure bath mats, holding railings while using stairs, and not texting while walking, can significantly reduce a person’s concussion risk.

Myth #2: Concussions present the same way in everyone

Just as concussions can be sustained in a variety of ways, symptoms can appear differently from person to person—and even differently in the same person across multiple concussions.

Kellie Pokrifka shared her personal experience with concussion, saying, “I had so many different concussions growing up, and embarrassingly, I thought it was sort of a badge of honor. I had no idea that this last one, 11 years ago, would leave me still in disabling pain every minute of my life. I have not been outside of a migraine attack since that day.”

What helped Pokrifka was understanding the different types of concussions, particularly by using the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s list of Clinical Trajectories for Concussions. “It was a light bulb moment,” she said. “Being able to define my trajectory—cognitive/fatigue, vestibular, ocular, post-traumatic migraine, cervical, and anxiety and mood—really helped me find better treatment options.”

Myth #3: Concussions affect men and women similarly

Research shows significant differences in how concussions manifest in males versus females, both in causes and symptoms. Snedaker noted that while data suggests men experience concussions at twice the rate of women, many cases in women may go unreported, particularly those resulting from domestic violence.

“Women have shown to feel their concussion symptoms and have more intense symptoms and a larger number of symptoms than men,” Snedaker explained, adding that research indicates women may experience longer recovery times. And in sports, female athletes often have a higher rate of concussion than their male counterparts in the same sport.

Dr. McQuiston said that there are also biological factors that make concussions more problematic for women: women typically have thinner necks, where a neck that is stronger or thicker may reduce the amount of energy transferred to the brain during an impact. In addition, women have more—and thinner—connections across the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibers that allow your brain’s left and right hemispheres to communicate. This means that they’re more prone to being disrupted. And women’s progesterone and estrogen levels fluctuate. These hormonal changes can affect concussion severity and recovery.

The panel also spoke to gender disparities in concussion care. Snedaker shared that studies conducted by Pink Concussions, as well as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, revealed that elementary and middle school girls are typically brought for medical care about a week later than boys with similar injuries.

And those disparities aren’t limited to children – adult women often delay care due to caregiving and professional responsibilities.

“Women don’t get checked because between jobs and caregiving for parents or children, there are too many people relying on them that they can’t just simply leave and go get it checked. So they may take more of a ‘wait and see’ approach,” Snedaker said.

Myth #4: You need to lose consciousness to have a concussion

One of the most dangerous myths is that losing consciousness is necessary for a concussion diagnosis. This misconception often leads people to avoid seeking medical attention after a head injury because they didn’t black out or the injury didn’t seem “serious” enough.

A recent survey from the Brain Injury Association of America reveals that 81 percent of adults don’t recognize a concussion as a type of traumatic brain injury. Dr. Nagele says that this data underscores the importance of getting evaluated right away. “It can help the person put their symptoms and expectations into perspective—and sometimes that initial evaluation can pick up on a problem that could be readily treated.”

Dr. Nagele emphasized the importance of getting care immediately through the tragic story of actress Natasha Richardson, who declined medical treatment after a skiing fall and later died from a brain bleed that could have been treated if detected earlier.

Myth #5: CT scans and MRIs always detect concussions

Many people believe that if diagnostic imaging comes back clear, they don’t have a concussion. According to the panel, this is false.

“It is a myth that if your head CT is negative, you did not have a brain injury,” Dr. McQuiston says. “The vast majority of head CTs are going to be negative. So even if you had a concussion, 90 percent of those CTs are going to be negative. That doesn’t mean you didn’t have a brain injury. That just means that you didn’t have a brain bleed or a skull fracture.”

This reality highlights the need for better diagnostic tools. Dr. McQuiston discussed promising advances in blood tests that can detect brain proteins that shouldn’t be in peripheral blood, offering a more accurate way to diagnose concussions when imaging appears normal.

Finding hope and moving forward

Despite the challenges concussions present, the expert panel emphasized that there are many reasons for hope around concussion prevention and care. “There’s always hope,” Dr. McQuiston stressed. “There’s so much that you can do and be your own advocate.”

For those experiencing concussion symptoms, the experts recommend several resources:

• Support groups through organizations like Pink Concussions, or your state’s Brain Injury Association of America affiliate
• The National Brain Injury Information Center, the Brain Injury Association of America’s helpline, at 1-800-444-6443
• The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), where you can search for CARF-accredited healthcare providers
• The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS), which has a variety of certification and certificate programs for professional learning about brain injury

Now that Brain Injury Awareness Month has come to a close, we want to continue to shed light on concussion awareness and prevention. Want to help? Become a Concussion Awareness Now Champion. We’ll provide you with resources and educational opportunities to help you start the concussion conversation.