Do I need a scan for a concussion?
Reviewed November 2026 by Online Concussion Clinic, a Perth-based telehealth concussion physiotherapy service. How this site is run
Short answer
Usually not. Concussion doesn't show up on a CT or MRI scan, so scans can't diagnose it or show how you're recovering. A doctor may order a CT scan to check for bleeding or a skull fracture if there are warning signs or other risk factors, such as being 65 or older, taking blood thinners, or a high-force injury.
Why most concussions don't need a scan
Concussion is a problem with how the brain works, not a structural injury that shows up on imaging. A normal CT or MRI doesn't rule out concussion, and it doesn't mean you can return to sport. Concussion is diagnosed by a health professional asking about the injury and your symptoms, and examining you.
When a doctor may order a CT scan
A CT scan looks for more serious injuries, such as bleeding or a fracture. Doctors use recognised decision rules to decide who needs one. Reasons can include:
- Any of the warning signs below, such as repeated vomiting, worsening headache or increasing drowsiness
- Age 65 or older, or taking blood-thinning medication
- A high-force injury, such as a fall from a height or a car or bike crash
- A suspected skull fracture
- Being knocked out, or having memory loss around the injury
If any of these apply, see a doctor the same day — read emergency department, GP or physio?
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is:
- Loss of consciousness, or getting drowsier or harder to wake
- A seizure or convulsion
- Severe or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision or loss of vision
- Weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness or unusual behaviour
- A visible deformity of the skull
For children, the emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital (Nedlands) is open 24 hours. If you're unsure, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours) for nurse advice.
Scans later in recovery
If symptoms are unusual, getting worse, or lasting a long time, your doctor may consider an MRI to rule out other causes. Most people with persisting symptoms have normal scans and still improve with the right treatment.
Find concussion care in Perth
Browse verified concussion providers across Perth — physiotherapists, GPs and neuropsychologists — and use the map to find one close to home. You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately.
Where this information comes from
- Patricios JS, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport – Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:695–711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898
- Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6), from the same conference.
- Australian Institute of Sport. Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, and the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. ausport.gov.au/concussion
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Your own health professional's advice comes first, and your sport or school may have its own concussion rules.