The Ontario Brain Injury Association’s New Study Finds Concussion Care Still Falling Short

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Canada marks Concussion Awareness Week, a new study from the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) reveals that concussion care in Ontario is still falling short. The report, “People Give Voice to their Early Concussion Experiences,” highlights troubling gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and support during recovery that continue to leave many individuals without the care they need.

“Concussion Awareness Week is meant to shine a spotlight on progress, but our research shows there is still a long way to go,” says Ruth Wilcock, CEO of OBIA. “Nearly 60% of people in our study did not even realize they had sustained a concussion at the time of their injury. They experienced classic symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea, but did not connect them to a concussion. Awareness campaigns have raised visibility, but they haven’t yet created widespread understanding.”

The findings are sobering:

• 60.87% of respondents felt their concussion was not taken seriously by healthcare providers.
• 89.23% reported receiving little or no information about symptoms or recovery at the time of diagnosis.

“Too often, people are left without guidance,” Wilcock emphasizes. “As one participant told us: ‘There’s no long-term care. There’s no follow-up. You’re just left.’ That cannot continue.”

Wilcock, who has worked at OBIA for more than 20 years, acknowledges progress in awareness and evidence-based guidelines but stresses that they are not applied consistently. “Guidelines only matter if they’re used in practice,” she explains. “Many participants told us it took weeks or months to get a diagnosis. Some were told simply to ‘rest,’ with no plan or follow-up. Others faced long waitlists, unaffordable care, or lived in rural and Northern areas with no services at all.”

The emotional toll was equally concerning. Respondents described isolation, anxiety, depression, and frustration while trying to recover and manage work, school, or family responsibilities. “This is not just a medical issue, it’s a systems issue,” Wilcock notes. “While recognition has improved in sports, the broader infrastructure to support recovery remains fragmented or missing altogether.”

OBIA’s report highlights four priorities for change:

1. Increase public awareness of concussion symptoms and the need for medical attention.
2. Standardize concussion protocols across healthcare providers.
3. Ensure ongoing support for concussion recovery.
4. Provide accessible, practical education for patients and families.

“These are the essential steps to prevent people with concussions from falling through the cracks,” Wilcock underscores.

She also points to the cost of inaction. “We know the healthcare system is overburdened,” she says. “But when concussions aren’t properly managed, people may be unable to return to work, require expensive specialist care, and face long-term hardship. Early care and coordinated support save money, but more importantly, they save futures.”

Wilcock concludes with a call to action: “Concussion Awareness Week reminds us how far we’ve come in understanding concussion, but this report makes it clear how far we still need to go. The days and weeks following a concussion are critical. We must move beyond awareness to real action, ensuring every Ontarian who sustains a concussion receives the care and support they need and deserve.”

The full report, “People Give Voice to their Early Concussion Experiences,” is available at: https://obia.ca/new-obia-report-sheds-light-on-early-concussion-experiences/

About Ontario Brain Injury Association

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) is a charitable organization supporting individuals living with acquired brain injury (ABI). OBIA offers education, advocacy, peer support, and professional training. It also connects individuals to local brain injury associations and resources across Ontario. Learn more at www.obia.ca.