Costs
There is currently no estimate of the full economic toll of sport-related concussion in adolescents. However, it is clear that the costs stretch from the individual into the greater society. A sport-related concussion is an acute injury that can have lasting effects and lead to permanent disability. To the injured individual, this means lost productivity, as well as mental and emotional costs that cannot be measured. As an adolescent, this injury is also costly to the parents. Even a mild concussion may require the parent to miss work in order to bring their child to medical and rehabilitation appointments. A more severe concussion with lasting effects could require even more time, perhaps even full-time care by the parent.
Following a concussion, the individual may require special attention at school. Also, the medical and rehabilitation care is a cost to insurance and requires the time of health care professionals. Considering that this injury occurs more frequently in a young age group, it is difficult to assess how great the long-term cost to society may be. Adolescents are about to enter the prime of life. In serious situations, this injury could result in a lifetime of productive work and contribution to society lost.