Will Smith’s new movie Concussion has helped strengthen a national debate over brain injuries and football. However, professional athletes have attracted a majority of the focus. Athletes of all ages are at risk for concussions. Depending on several factors, such as age and injury severity, concussions can cause long-lasting effects in children.

Some studies have found strong evidence suggesting children can be affected by concussions for months to years. According to a study from the University of Illinois, some children with a history of brain injury have marked differences in cognitive abilities. Researchers gave brain scans and thinking tests to 15 children aged 8 to 10 who had histories of concussions. Evidence from the study showed children had disruptions in attention and cognitive skills long after their injuries.

Cognitive symptoms are not the only consequences of children receiving concussions. Much like adults, children who have received concussions may be more prone to mental health problems in the months following the injury.

How Are Children’s Lives Affected by Concussions?

In some cases, and depending on how long children need to recover from a concussion, falling behind in school is not uncommon. An additional study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine showed 20 percent of children who received concussions continued to show symptoms months later. For that unlucky 20 percent, falling behind several months in school could cause children to repeat grades.

This blog is not meant to incite fear or bash sports, but to educate parents on the risks associated with sports such as football. Dr. Omalu, the doctor portrayed by Will Smith in Concussion, recently spoke to the press and claimed children cannot make the risk assessment necessary to decide if playing football is in their best interest.

Parents should sit down with their children, lay out the facts on concussions and contact sports, and help them develop a better understanding of short and long-term risks.