How Long Do Concussion Symptoms Last? Key Signs to Watch For

A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), happens when you take a hit to the head, neck, or body, causing the brain to bounce around within the skull.

Concussion symptoms include confusion, drowsiness, nausea, and headache. These might start immediately following an injury, but some symptoms may take days or weeks to appear. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person, depending on age, extent of injury, and through different stages of recovery.

How Long Should You Watch for Signs of a Concussion?

There might not be symptoms right away. Symptoms sometimes start days or weeks later, so you'll want to be alert to signs for several weeks. Typical recovery time can also last from days to weeks. During this time, you should still watch for new or worsening symptoms.

Recovery happens in stages. The acute symptomatic stage starts at the time of the injury and goes through the height of symptoms until they start to improve. This usually lasts less than three days.

Once symptoms are improving, you're in the recovery stage. You feel like your usual self, although symptoms worsen when you overdo it. Recovery is different for everyone. Total recovery time is typically 30 days for those under 18 and 14 days for adults over 18.

You're fully recovered once you're free of symptoms and can return to normal activities without issue. Consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions, as the recovery timeline is unique to individuals.

Cognitive Symptoms

A concussion can affect the way you think and make decisions. Cognitive signs and symptoms of concussion may include:

• Difficulty paying attention or concentrating
• Slowness in responding to questions
• Disorientation, feeling foggy, inability to think clearly
• Loss of memory of what happened just before or just after the injury
• Long-term memory problems

If you suspect someone has a concussion, ask them simple questions to gauge their response time and whether they can answer correctly.

Physical Symptoms

At first, the physical effects of a concussion may be more evident than cognitive ones, and may include:

• Balance problems, dizziness
• Blurry vision, double vision
• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Nausea, vomiting
• Noise (hyperacusis) or light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Seeing stars or flashing lights
  

Emotional Symptoms

A concussion can affect how you process feelings and can cause emotional symptoms such as:

• Depression
• Irritability, quick to anger
• Mood swings, generally more emotional than normal
• Nervousness, anxiety
• Sadness
  

Sleep-Related Symptoms

In the aftermath of a head injury, it's not uncommon to experience sleep disturbances. Concussion is associated with sleep problems such as:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Fatigue
• Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
• Need for more sleep than usual
• Poor sleep quality

Sleep problems are linked to reduced cognitive functioning, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.

Some research suggests poor sleep quality is associated with symptoms lasting six months to four years after the injury. This includes impaired executive function, working memory, information processing, and emotional symptoms.

A Word From Verywell

Concussions start with an instantaneous change in neurological status and are followed by signs that typically resolve within weeks. Some symptoms may take several months or more than a year to resolve. Symptoms fail to go away entirely for a few individuals but show improvements and stabilization over time.

— BRIGID DWYER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Symptoms in Children

Symptoms in children are much the same as symptoms in adults, including:

• Balance problems, clumsiness
• Headache
• Light-headedness, dizziness
• Light or noise sensitivity
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss, feeling foggy, lack of concentration
• Mood and personality changes
• Not answering simple questions
• Problems with affect (expressing emotions)
• Short-lasting fever
• Trouble sleeping
• Vision problems
  

Symptoms are usually most severe in the first day or two. Keep an eye out for behavior that's unusual for your child.

Common Signs in Babies

Infants may have many of the same symptoms as older children. In addition, you might notice:

• Difficulty being soothed
• Excessive crying
• Refusing to nurse or eat
• Wanting to be held more than usual

Complications

Even though a concussion is called a "mild" traumatic brain injury, it's still a serious injury. After a concussion, some people develop persistent symptoms such as:

• Fatigue, excessive drowsiness, insomnia
• Headache, dizziness
• Memory and concentration problems
• Mood swings, personality changes

Known as post-concussion syndrome, these symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months. Another potential complication is second impact syndrome, a condition in which you get a second concussion before completely recovering from the prior one. The second impact causes acute and potentially fatal brain swelling.

Multiple poorly managed concussions may be linked to conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease, and dementia.

One of the best things you can do to avoid complications is to rest and let your brain heal. Good sleep is an important part of recovery. Exercising, using electronic devices, or studying can make symptoms worse. It's important to limit physical activity and anything that requires intense concentration. Return to normal activities slowly or as advised by a healthcare provider.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a mild concussion and a life-threatening brain injury. Always contact a healthcare provider if you have a head injury. Prompt evaluation can rule out or confirm the diagnosis and reduce the risk of bleeding or swelling in the brain, seizures, and other complications.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Signs that you should seek emergency care include:     

• Child who won't nurse or eat
• Confusion, agitation, unusual behavior
• Double vision, one pupil larger than the other
• Excessive nausea, repeat vomiting
• Headache or other symptoms that keep getting worse or don't go away after 10 to 14 days    
• History of multiple concussions
• Inability to stay awake, loss of consciousness
• Shaking, twitching, seizures
• Slurred speech, numbness, weakness, lack of coordination

Summary

A concussion is a type of mild brain injury. It happens when something, such as a head or neck injury, causes the brain to jerk or twist around in the skull. This can cause cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms.

It's hard to tell the difference between a mild concussion and a serious brain injury. That's why it's best to contact a healthcare provider for guidance. Seek emergency treatment for signs such as inability to stay awake, repeated vomiting, or slurred speech. With proper care, most people can recover within a few weeks.