When it comes to sports-related injuries—particularly head injuries—male-dominated sports like football and boxing tend to get the most publicity. But recent studies of high school and college-level athletes have shown that female athletes experience a higher rate of concussions and post-concussive syndrome than their male counterparts, with sports like women’s soccer and ice hockey being particularly high-risk.
Given these statistics, it’s especially crucial for parents of girls to be able to spot signs of post-concussive syndrome. Symptoms of this disorder aren’t always obvious, which is why at Neuro Visual Center of New York, we are committed to educating families about how to identify its signs.
Why Girls Have Higher Rates of Concussions
Although further research is needed to fully understand why girls appear to have a higher proclivity for concussions than boys, medical experts believe the anatomy of the female neck may be partly to blame. Girls’ necks are generally smaller and weaker than boys’ necks, making them more vulnerable to trauma.
Hormones could also play a role. During the pre-menstrual phase, women experience a high level of progesterone. A concussion can cause this level to suddenly drop, making symptoms such as migraines and dizziness more severe and longer-lasting.
Unfortunately, scientists still don’t completely understand why girls tend to sustain more concussions than boys, which makes it hard to develop adequate preventive methods. That’s why it’s so important to be able to identify signs of head trauma and seek the appropriate treatment if your child has experienced this type of injury.
Spotting the Signs of Post Concussive Syndrome
If your child is involved in high-contact sports like soccer, football, lacrosse or ice hockey, you should always be on the lookout for symptoms of a concussion—especially if you have a daughter. Even a seemingly minor incident could cause a concussion.
Concussions can alter the way your brain interprets the visual signals transmitted by your eyes. This can lead to post-concussive disorder, which manifests with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, facial pain and difficulty concentrating. You may experience these symptoms long after you actually sustained the head injury. We advise bringing your child to a trusted neurovisual center for prompt diagnosis and a treatment plan if they exhibit any of these common symptoms.
How The Neuro Visual Center of New York Can Help
Dr. Cheryl Israeloff is a pioneer in the field of optometric treatment for symptoms of post-concussive syndrome and has more than 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating this disorder. She and her highly skilled team will perform a specialized neurovisual exam to examine your child’s eyes for tiny misalignments, which are often indicative of post-concussive syndrome. These misalignments cause the muscles in your eyes to strain, contributing to symptoms such as migraines and dizziness.
We use custom aligning lenses to correct these often small eye misalignments. This time-tested treatment has been proven to reduce or even eliminate symptoms associated with post-concussive syndrome, drastically enhancing our patients’ quality of life. Call (516) 224-4888 to schedule an appointment with The Neuro Visual Center of New York, or complete our questionnaire to learn more.
