Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Concussions

Concussions are usually caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. Sometimes, the signs of injury are not immediately obvious. 

To properly diagnose a concussion or traumatic brain injury, your physician will begin with a thorough physical and neurological office exam, which will likely be followed by one or more of these tests:

• Blood tests check for underlying condition
• X-rays
• Computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure the brain's electrical activity