Questions to Ask for Concussion
Twenty questions to ask the clinician treating a concussion. They cover what the examination showed, which symptoms to expect, the signs that need urgent care, returning to work, school, driving and sport, and what happens if recovery stalls.
The questions
Open any question for the note
What did the examination show, and what is this diagnosis based on?
Why ask it
Concussion is diagnosed clinically, so ask what was tested and what the findings were. Knowing whether imaging was done, and why it was or was not needed, prevents you assuming a normal scan means no injury.
Which symptoms should I expect over the next few days, and which would be unusual?
Why ask it
Knowing the expected list in advance stops ordinary symptoms causing alarm, and makes the unexpected ones easier to notice. Ask for the two or three that would make you call rather than wait.
What signs mean I should go to an emergency department rather than wait for the follow-up?
Why ask it
This is the answer to write down and leave where someone else can read it. Vague advice to watch for anything serious is not usable at two in the morning.
How much rest do I need in the first day or two, and when should I start moving again?
Why ask it
Advice on rest has changed over the years, so ask for this clinician's current instruction and how long it applies. A specific number of days is more useful than being told to take it easy.
Can I use screens, read, or work, and how do I tell when I have done too much?
Why ask it
The practical test is usually symptom-based rather than time-based, and you need to know what threshold means stop. Ask what to do after you have overdone it, since that will happen at least once.
Is it safe for me to be on my own over the next day or two?
Why ask it
People who live alone need a direct answer to this before they leave the appointment. If supervision is advised, ask for how long and what the person staying with you is watching for.
What can I take for the headache, and what should I avoid?
Why ask it
Some pain relief is discouraged after a head injury, and frequent use of others can cause headaches of its own. Get the specific list, including anything you already take regularly.
How should I handle sleep, and is it a problem if I sleep far more than usual?
Why ask it
Sleeping a lot in the first days worries families who have heard the old advice about keeping someone awake. Ask what is expected, and at what point disrupted or excessive sleep should be reported.
My neck and jaw hurt as well; is that part of this, or does it need treating separately?
Why ask it
Neck strain often happens in the same impact and can produce headaches that get attributed to the concussion. It may need its own assessment and treatment, which will not happen unless you raise it.
Should my vision and balance be checked specifically, and by whom?
Why ask it
Blurred vision, trouble focusing between near and far, and unsteadiness respond to targeted therapy rather than waiting. Ask whether these were examined today and what triggers a referral.
Should I avoid alcohol while I recover, and for how long?
Why ask it
Alcohol affects balance, sleep, and judgement about your own limits, all of which are already disturbed. Ask for a number of weeks rather than assuming the usual moderation advice applies.
When can I drive again?
Why ask it
Reaction time and concentration can be affected while you feel roughly normal, and this question is easy to forget until you are holding your keys. Ask whether there is a specific test or a set interval.
Is there any restriction on flying or long journeys while I recover?
Why ask it
Cabin pressure, noise, and a long day of travel can set symptoms back, and people often have a trip already booked. Ask whether there is a waiting period and what would make you postpone.
What should I tell my employer or school, and can you put accommodations in writing?
Why ask it
A short note specifying reduced hours, screen limits, or extra time for assessments carries weight that your own explanation will not. Ask what the note can say and how long it covers.
What is the step-by-step plan for returning to exercise, and what makes me go back a step?
Why ask it
Return to activity is normally staged, and the rule for moving between stages is the part people get wrong. Ask what symptoms during a stage mean you repeat it.
If I play a contact sport, who has to clear me, and what needs to be documented?
Why ask it
Clearance for contact sport often requires a specific assessment and a written sign-off, and league rules may set a minimum interval regardless of how you feel. Find out who holds that authority.
What is a normal recovery time for someone my age, and at what point are we off that track?
Why ask it
Timelines differ for adolescents, adults, and people with previous concussions or migraine history. A defined point for reassessment is more useful than an average.
If symptoms are still here in a month, what happens next and who would I see?
Why ask it
Persisting symptoms are managed differently, sometimes by a specialist clinic or with vestibular or vision therapy. Knowing the referral pathway now saves weeks later.
Does this injury change my risk if I hit my head again, and for how long?
Why ask it
The answer affects decisions about sport, cycling, and work in the coming months. Ask for a period rather than a general caution.
Who do I contact between now and the follow-up if something changes?
Why ask it
Ask for a named service and its hours, and what to do outside them. Households usually discover the gap in this plan at the least convenient moment.
Using these questions in a concussion appointment
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before the appointment
Write down what happened
Note the time of the injury, how it happened, whether there was any loss of consciousness, and what the first hour was like. Memory of the event is often patchy, so ask anyone who was present.
List symptoms with times
A short log of headache, nausea, light sensitivity, mood changes, and sleep is more useful than a general description. Take it to every visit so changes are visible.
Bring someone with you
Concentration is often affected, and a second person will retain instructions you will not. They can also describe changes in behaviour that you may not notice yourself.
Bring your medication list
Include anything bought without a prescription, along with supplements. Some of it bears directly on the answer about pain relief.
Keeping track at home
- Keep the red flag list on the fridge, and make sure someone else in the household has read it.
- Record which activities set symptoms off, not just how bad they were. The pattern guides the return plan.
- Note how much screen time preceded a bad afternoon, since the connection is easy to miss in the moment.
- Keep a copy of any written accommodation, and diarise its end date so it can be extended if needed.
- Write your questions down as they occur to you; almost all of them will be gone by the follow-up.
Common pitfalls
Treating a normal scan as the all clear
Imaging is used to rule out bleeding, not to confirm or exclude concussion. A normal result does not mean the return plan can be skipped.
Returning to full days at the first good morning
Symptoms often lag the activity that caused them by hours. Step up gradually, and hold at the level you managed without a setback.
Going back to contact sport without formal clearance
A further head injury during recovery is the specific risk the staged plan exists to avoid. Whatever the schedule pressure, clearance should come from the clinician.
Not reporting mood and sleep changes
Irritability, low mood, and anxiety are part of the picture for many people and are treatable, but they only get addressed if they are mentioned. They are as relevant as headache.