A concussion is a type of mild brain injury, usually caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that makes the brain move inside the skull. You might have symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, memory problems, feeling slowed down, or unusual tiredness. Not everyone has all of these, and symptoms can appear straight away or hours later. If you’re unsure, get checked by a health professional.

No. Approx 90% of concussions happen without being knocked out. You can have a concussion even if you never blacked out or were only dazed for a moment.

Yes. In medical terms, a concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). ‘Mild’ describes the initial severity, not how you feel or how long recovery might take.

It’s common for concussion symptoms to change from day to day, or even during the same day. Your brain is recovering, and things like tiredness, stress, noise, or busy environments can temporarily make symptoms worse. As you return to normal activities, symptoms might flare up. This doesn’t always mean you’re going backwards but it does mean your brain needs more rest.

A concussion doesn’t show up on standard brain scans. A clear scan is good news. It means there’s no bleeding or serious injury that needs urgent treatment but you can still have a concussion. Even if nothing shows on a scan, if you have symptoms of a concussion your brain still needs time and care to heal.

Most people recover fully, but recovery time can vary from a few days to several weeks or longer. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or last more than 2–3 weeks, see a health professional who understands concussion. If you develop any of the RED FLAGS seek medical help immediately.

Go to the emergency department immediately if you have red flag symptoms such as repeated vomiting, worsening headache, weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, loss of balance, seizures, or increasing confusion. Otherwise, see your GP or an A&E clinic as soon as possible for assessment.

It is safe and, in fact, recommended to sleep as long as there are no red flags or warning signs. If there are any red flags or warning signs, seek immediate medical attention.

You don’t need to wake the person every hour – this is an old myth.

You can check on them occasionally to ensure they’re breathing normally and appear settled especially in the first few hours after the injury but waking them up regularly is not necessary and may even interfere with recovery.
Sleep helps the brain heal in the first days after injury.

Standard brain scans (like CT or MRI) don’t show a concussion. That’s why recognising the signs and symptoms is so important.

A GP or medical professional considers several factors to help them assess and manage a suspected concussion:

• The cause of the injury – to get an idea of how much force the brain was exposed to
• Symptoms and severity of symptoms
• Medical history including any previous concussions
• The overall impact of injury on the person’s life.

For people over 8 years old, it is recommended that the GP use the BIST – a screening tool developed in NZ to help clinicians.
Exciting research is happening in NZ right now to develop a blood test to identify a concussion. Until then, information about the incident, symptom severity and past concussions will be used to help guide diagnosis and recovery.

The word “mild” in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) refers to how the injury is classified medically, not how serious it feels to the person experiencing it. It means that:

• There was no skull fracture or bleeding seen on a scan
• There was no long loss of consciousness
• Emergency medical care wasn’t required

But that doesn’t mean your symptoms aren’t real, difficult, or distressing.

Some people with concussion feel far from “mild”.  It can affect your thinking, emotions, energy, memory, and day-to-day life in ways that are frustrating and overwhelming.

Everyone’s experience is different. Some people bounce back quickly, and for others, recovery takes longer and needs more support. That doesn’t mean your injury is more dangerous, but it just means your brain needs more time to heal.

With the right support, most people recover fully. If your symptoms are lingering or getting worse, it’s important to talk to a health professional who understands concussion and can guide your recovery. Go back to your GP as a starting point and ask about a referral to a Concussion Service.

No – concussions can happen to anyone at any time.

Falls are the most common cause of concussion followed by:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Sport and recreation injuries
• Assaults or physical violence

A concussion can be very hard to diagnose. Sometimes symptoms have not presented themselves when you first see the doctor. They can be delayed and develop later.

If you have symptoms or if you are just feeling “off” after a knock to the head or body, it is important that you go back to see a doctor.

It can help to prepare for your appointment by completing the Symptom Tracker. This will help guide your conversation with your doctor and ensure you do not forget things in the appointment.

A concussion is real. Even if others can’t see it, what you’re feeling matters — and it deserves care.