Concussion Specialist in Westchester NY

If you or your child has taken a blow to the head, getting evaluated quickly matters. At New York Sports Medicine Institute, our concussion specialist in Westchester NY provides fast, individualized assessment and recovery care at our White Plains location — including FDA-approved EyeBOX eye-tracking and Credentialed ImPACT® testing. We treat athletes and non-athletes alike, and help guide a safe return to sport, school, and work.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that briefly disrupts how the brain works. Most happen during sports, falls, or car accidents, and most people recover within a few days to weeks. But concussions are complex — they can affect memory, mood, balance, vision, and concentration — so each case should be evaluated by an experienced team. If you’re unsure how serious an injury is, our guide on telling a mild concussion from a severe one walks through the grades and warning signs.

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

A concussion isn’t always visible, and symptoms can appear right away or surface hours to days later. Watch for:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Nausea
• Light or noise sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Feeling foggy, drowsy, or “not right”

In children and teens, look for changes in behavior, mood, or sleep. A fuller breakdown is in our post on the warning signs of a concussion.

How We Diagnose Concussions in Westchester

NYSMI is a Credentialed ImPACT® Consultant, offering the most widely used and scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system for both baseline and post-injury testing. We also use EyeBOX — the first FDA-approved, baseline-free diagnostic aid — which tracks eye movement to help detect a concussion in a simple four-minute test, available at our Westchester location. A clinical exam checks vision, balance, reflexes, coordination, and memory to rule out more serious injury.

Concussion Treatment and Recovery

Recovery centers on physical and mental rest. In the first one to two weeks (the acute phase), that means scaling back school, work, screens, and intense exercise so the brain can heal. As symptoms ease, activity is reintroduced gradually. Returning too soon risks second-impact syndrome, a rare but serious re-injury, which is why athletes should never return to play sooner than a week after injury and only after clearance. Because no two concussions are alike, we build each recovery plan case by case.

Our Concussion Care Services

• Baseline neurocognitive and ImPACT® assessments, plus pre-season screening for individual athletes and teams
• Balance and vestibular testing and rehabilitation
• Comprehensive post-injury neurocognitive and physical evaluation, with subspecialty referrals as needed
• Coordination with families, schools, and athletic departments on recovery accommodations
• Educational workshops for parents, coaches, trainers, students, and school nurses

Care is led by our concussion provider, Marie Serina, FNP-BC — you can read more on her concussion care team page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule With Our Westchester Concussion Team

Don’t wait on a head injury.

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