When your child goes to the emergency room with an injury to the head, doctors will begin the process of diagnosing the brain injury right away. It’s important that your child receive a diagnosis immediately, as timely treatment will ensure that the long-term effects of the brain injury are minimized to the extent that they can be.

If your child is conscious upon entering the emergency room, doctors will assess cognitive and physical impairment by asking a battery of questions and giving some simple commands. Doctors will look for signs and symptoms such as increased reflexes and muscle tone, slurring of speech, difficulty speaking or swallowing, tremors, or difficulty remaining conscious to assess the seriousness of the injury.

There will be a variety of tests administered in the emergency room any time a child loses consciousness, even if it’s for a very short period of time. These tests will allow doctors to determine if the skull as been fractured and if anything has penetrated brain tissue, and will alert doctors to conditions that require immediate surgery.

Doctors will also use a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale to assess the child’s level of consciousness. This tool assesses the child’s ability to move, speak, and open her eyes, and can help doctors make some predictions concerning the long-term effects of the brain injury.