Sometimes It’s More Than Just a Little Bump on the Head

From bike or car accidents to falls on playgrounds, if you are a parent, you have probably experienced the fear that your child may have a concussion. Concussions are not limited to sports.

Despite an increase in the amount of kids being diagnosed with pediatric concussions, many children are not properly identified as having a concussion.  And even if they are, parents are left wondering what to do next.  Will there be other neurological symptoms? How will my child’s daily routine be affected?

Thankfully, heightened media attention and the implementation of state laws have led to improved early detection and treatment of sports-related concussion for children. An example of this is the Pediatric Concussion Clinic at the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute. 

The program, led by concussion expert Gillian Hotz, M.D., will serve children under 16 who have suffered concussion from a non-sports related injury.

“Too often younger children fall through the cracks and are not correctly diagnosed with concussion,” said Dr. Hotz, who is also director of all concussion programming at the University of Miami Health System. “We have put together an expert multidisciplinary team to manage care of young children who suffer concussions in recreational activities, such as biking, walking and play, or who are injured in youth sports motor vehicle accidents.”

The Pediatric Concussion Clinic is co-directed by Dr. Danielle Ransom, a neuropsychologist, and Dr. Juan Solano, a pediatric critical care physician who are both are experienced in acute pediatric brain injury. Ransom and Solano will evaluate patients’ concussions and their effects on children’s daily lives. They work with parents and children to understand the individualized nature of each injury and the extent of symptoms to develop personalized treatment plans.

“Concussion is not just a football injury or an injury that happens to pro athletes or boys,” said Dr. Ransom. “Concussion can impact anyone, at any stage, at any time. I believe the most important component of recovery is a team effort. Each patient brings a unique set of experiences to clinic, and our experts work together to provide the best outcomes for your child.”

Dr. Solano has seen numerous neurological injuries in children, and he feels that concussion is often an unaddressed problem in pediatrics.

“Because concussion is often not recognized in kids, their health, as well as their physical and school performance, can be affected,” said Dr. Solano. “Early recognition and management by a multidisciplinary team experienced in pediatric concussion is essential to the recovery of these children, which is exactly what our clinic provides.”

If you suspect your child has suffered a concussion, call (305) 243-2074 to schedule an appointment.

Written by a staff writer at UHealth.

Tags: concussion, Danielle Ransom, Gillian Hotz, Juan Solano, Pediatric Concussion Clinic, University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute