Is it just a harmless bump on the head — or something more serious? Our pediatric concussion experts have the experience, equipment, and medical know-how to tell the difference. We take a team approach to assess and treat kids of all ages with concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries. Our physicians work together to treat all children as we would our own — and to get them back to doing the things they love.
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when someone’s brain moves around inside the skull or bangs against it. Although the injury may seem mild, it can affect a child’s health, thinking ability, behavior/mood, school performance, and social interactions.
A concussion can be caused by:
- a fall, especially in babies, toddlers, and young children
- a sports injury
- a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), bike, or automobile
- a physical attack, a school fight or child abuse
- whiplash
- any major head trauma, blow to the head
With plenty of rest and reduced activity, kids often recover on their own from a concussion in a week or two. Others might require weeks or even months of therapy, rehabilitation, and taking a break from school, sports and other physical and cognitive activities. One of the most important factors for a successful recovery is easing back in to regular activities slowly over time, one activity at a time, with guidance from your health care provider.
Lancaster
Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Lancaster
2128 Embassy Drive,
Suite A
Lancaster, PA 17603
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Phone: (717) 481-8771
Hours: Hours vary
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- photo ID
- medical and pharmacy insurance cards
- preferred pharmacy name and phone number
- names and dosage of all medications, including over-the-counter medication, your child is currently taking
- guardianship and custody papers, if a legal guardian rather than a parent accompanies your child
New Patients
Bring these forms for your first appointment:
Returning Patients
- Patient Presents without Legal Guardian (PDF)
Note: A parent or legal guardian must be with a child for a first visit.
New Patient Forms
Returning Patient Forms
- Patient Presents without Legal Guardian (PDF)
Note: A parent or legal guardian must be with a child for a first visit.
Resources for Patients & Families
- Insurance We Accept: See accepted insurance, listed by location
- Pay Your Bill: Use online bill pay or send by mail
- Financial Assistance: Help with your child's health care expenses
- MyNemours: Access your child’s medical record online
A concussion directly involves the brain and can affect how kids feel, behave, and function in school. We know concussions can be scary, whether your child is an infant or adolescent. That’s why a pediatric Neurologist provides assessment, referral and treatment services for concussion patients at Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Lancaster.
For comprehensive concussion care, patients are referred to the Concussion Care team at nearby Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware.
Concussion Care at duPont Hospital for Children
The Concussion Program at duPont Hospital for Children includes team members from multiple specialty areas, including:
- pediatric rehabilitation medicine (brain injury specialists)
- neurology
- neuropsychology
- neurosurgery
- sports medicine
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- speech therapy
- otolaryngology (balance specialists)
- ophthalmology
Of course, which team members your child or teen sees will depend entirely on your child’s needs. Our Concussion Program care team will develop a personalized treatment program based on your child’s symptoms and changes in functioning. But most kids just need lots of rest from physical and mental activities before carefully returning to normal activities.
During the recovery time, your child or teen should rest and avoid physical activities including physical education (gym class), competitive or contact sports, exercise, ball sports, weight training, running, recess, bike riding, and wheeled activities (to name a few) until cleared by a doctor. Your child may also need to stay away from loud, bright, crowded places and limit activities that require a lot of thinking — including school, work, and driving.
Some kids require specialized diagnostic, monitoring, and treatment techniques. Rarely, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other radiology (or medical imaging) tests may be needed to check for more severe damage. If so, you can get medical imaging tests at the hospital. (Learn more about the different kinds of imaging tests and what to expect.) Some younger children with concussion may need to be monitored overnight in the hospital.
Follow-Up Care
After your child or teen is injured it’s important to follow up with a health care provider.
Make sure your child is seen by a concussion specialist if your child:
- required an Emergency Department visit or hospitalization
- has symptoms that continue for more than a few days
- has a history of a previous concussion
Under new laws in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, your child will require medical clearance from a physician before returning to play.
Contact Us
To schedule an appointment or learn more about concussion care at Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Lancaster, contact us at (717) 481–8771.
