You Only Get One Brain
by Vincent M. DelGiudice, MSCCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
When I was 13 years old I played tackle football for the town league. I don’t remember much from playing but there is one specific play that I will never forget. My best friend was also in the league, and he was on the opposing team. He was one of those guys that was just reckless with his body and would crush you when you came on his side of his field. Well that night, the quarterback handed off the ball to me, and I remember turning the corner and looking him in the eye as I saw him. I just put my head down and hoped for the best. We collided and I can still hear the crack of the helmets. I fell straight back and was out cold for a couple seconds. I was 13, I was nauseous, dizzy, and had a splitting headache at this point, but I didn’t even come off the field. My coach smacked me in the head and said “you good?” With tears in my eyes I just shook my head yes and ran to the huddle.
I was 13, I wasn’t getting paid to play obviously and here I was in the huddle, with a concussion. This happens to people every day. Actually more than 800 times per day. If you play a contact sport, there is a 19% chance of suffering from a concussion per year of play. People suffer from concussions every day and most of us just try to shake it off. After the game my friend’s mom gave me an Advil and I just went to sleep that night. I had a headache for two days. Maybe one time is no big deal, but this is your brain we’re talking about. You only get one. Yet we have athletes running full speed smashing heads. We have soccer players heading the ball an average of 6 times per game. People have work injuries, fall off ladders, out of trees, and trip over their own shoelaces.
Regardless of how you get a concussion it is important to get yourself checked out by a doctor who specializes in concussions. If you are having trouble remembering things, concentrating, or organizing your thoughts, it might be time to see a doctor. Here at Vegas Voice Institute we provide cognitive/memory therapy for concussions and sports-related concussions and work injuries. It might be worth thinking about the health of your brain. You only get the one you have!
