Fear of brain damage sidelining young athletes

Tyler Layer doesnt remember the hit that took him out of football for good last August or the two weeks that followed.

The hit knocked him out for a minute or two and caused him to miss the season. When he suffered a second concussion after a fall at home this summer, his doctor made it official: No more football. The risk of further injury to his brain was too great.

Experts hope regulations put into place last year regarding concussions in high school athletes will prevent long-term damage in teens like Tyler. Its too soon to tell, though, if the rules are having the desired effect, they say.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association, like its counterparts nationally, requires that athletes who show signs of a concussion loss of consciousness, dizziness, confusion, headache and vomiting or nausea be pulled out of a game. To return to play that day, they need to be cleared by a doctor, osteopath or licensed athletic trainer who certifies that they dont have a concussion, said OHSAA spokesman Tim Stried.

It makes coaches and officials keep an eye out for these types of injuries and make sure the kids get referred to medical professionals, said athletic trainer Robin Lensch, who works for the Kettering Health Network. She works with athletes in the Kettering City Schools.

Athletes diagnosed with a concussion are required to rest and get medical clearance before they can return to practice and competition.

The time off gives athletes brains a chance to heal, said Dr. James Tytko, a sports medicine specialist with Kettering Health Network. It also reduces the risk for another immediate concussion. The biggest risk factor for subsequent concussions is that first concussion. Each shock to the brain makes it more vulnerable for long-lasting damage, he said.

Consequences of repeated concussions are in the spotlight now for both for athletes and soldiers. The National Football League is fighting off more than 100 lawsuits filed by former players who allege the league failed to inform them of the risks of repeated head injuries. Former NFL players have stepped forward in recent years, speaking of depression, memory loss and even dementia they believe were caused by repeated concussions and other head injuries during their years on the field.

Treating and preventing concussions in teens and younger athletes can help prevent issuesthat may not become apparent for decades, local experts say, and the attention surrounding the NFL and its former players is helping raise awareness.

We used to just see children who played football coming in, said Dr. Jay Gosalakkal, a pediatric neurologist at Childrens Medical Center of Dayton. Now were seeing other sports as well, like basketball, and more soccer.

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Fear of brain damage sidelining young athletes