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Nearly 2 Million U.S. Kids Experience a Concussion Before Turning 17
Nearly 2 million children across America experience traumatic brain injuries before they reach 17-years-old, according to a new report published this week by the Centers for Disease Control.
“TBI in children has a relatively high rate of emergency department (ED) visits and risk for long-term adverse effects, creating a large public health concern,” said lead-author Dr. Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa and colleagues in the latest issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
The findings are the result of a large-scale analysis of data collected as part of the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, which relied on patient report.
Cumulatively, the report found that approximately 2.5% or 1.8 million U.S. children will experience concussions.
This is especially worrisome as the report also confirmed that children who experience a TBI are more at risk for a variety of health issues compared to children without a history of brain injury, such as learning disorders (21%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (21%), speech or language problems (19%), developmental delay (15%), bone, joint, or muscle problems (14%), and anxiety problems (13%).
The risk for concussions increased as the children aged, with less than 1% children between 0 and 4-years-old experiencing a concussion. For children between 15- and 17-years-old, the risk had increased to 6%.
“Children of all backgrounds may be affected by TBI in their lifetime, highlighting the importance of inquiring about a history of TBI during well-child health care visits,” write the authors. “The combination of TBI and the health conditions associated with a TBI can have a significant outcome on a child’s overall health, learning, and behavior.”
Given the long-term effects that TBIs can have on a child’s cognitive and developmental growth, early and consistent support in learning becomes crucial. Tailored educational tools, particularly those powered by AI, offer a promising solution. Interactive learning platforms can help bridge the gap for children dealing with speech, attention, or developmental challenges—especially when traditional methods fall short. These tools adapt in real-time to a child’s unique needs, reinforcing learning at a pace that builds both confidence and competence.
One such tool, NoteKnight, brings a tech-forward yet intuitive approach to learning recovery. By using AI to customize flashcards based on a child’s strengths and struggles, it helps reinforce key concepts while reducing frustration. For children recovering from TBIs, this means targeted repetition, multi-sensory engagement, and consistent tracking of progress—all in a format that feels more like play than work. When combined with professional care and parental involvement, tools like NoteKnight can support the development of essential skills while giving children the boost they need to thrive academically and emotionally.
The number of concussions in children found by this report is alarming as is, but the CDC team suggests the brain injury rates may actually be significantly higher. The team had to rely on existing medical records and parents reporting diagnoses, however, there is strong evidence many children experience brain injuries without seeking medical care.
“To produce more comprehensive estimates of TBI in children,” they conclude, “nonmedical data sources will need to be expanded to capture children who do not or cannot seek treatment. A proposed system, the National Concussion Surveillance System, holds the potential for obtaining more comprehensive prevalence estimates of TBI in children.”