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Dr. Ann Hanley, a neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley, will speak to parents at Haldane High School on March 4 about the signs and symptoms of concussion.

Hanley said with the growing amount of evidence that concussions sustained during sports play can have long-term consequences, parents and coaches are seeking more information on this common sports injury.

"Concussions can seriously impair children physically, mentally and emotionally," said Ann Hanley, M.D. "The sooner concussions are diagnosed, the sooner children can begin healing."

Some symptoms of a concussion, such as vomiting, losing consciousness after an injury or trouble balancing, can be easy to observe, while others may be harder to spot. Blurred vision, headaches, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech, loss of memory, confusion, feeling "off," irritability, depression and changes in sleep patterns may all be signs that a child has a concussion.

Early, accurate diagnosis of concussions in children can help prevent further injury and give them the best chance at having a full recovery, said Dr. Hanley.

"If your child is hit on the head or shows signs of having a concussion, take him or her to a specialist for evaluation as soon as possible," said Dr. Hanley, a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group/Hudson Valley. "A doctor can discover the extent of the injury and help select the best treatment options, whether that’s rest, further testing or surgical intervention for more serious cases."

Dr. Hanley will delve more into this topic on March 4 at 7 p.m. at Haldane High School, 15 Craigside Drive, Cold Spring, NY 10516. For more information on the program or to learn how to engage a physician as a guest speaker at your school or community organization, call 914-734-3557.