The issue of the NFL settlement touches a nerve, in terms of those who have acquired this and other conditions through concussion and other head trauma, specifically related to sports. I saw one interview where a former player was saying that if he had been warned, or at least told of the possible injuries he might have rethought playing. I seriously doubt it. Kids in pee-wee leagues and school programs simply don't appreciate the potential dangers of what they are doing. They just want to play the game, pure and simple. Even if you told them all of the dangers, they wouldn't think twice about suiting up and jumping into the frey.
Frankly, that applies to parents and doctors as well. Both groups of adults sign off on having kids playing contact sports, with the dangers being perceived as not being as relivant to their kids as it really is. They also don't think about what could happen decades down the road.
I've spoken out about research into the 'cure' for hydro, I'm one of 'those people' who don't feel that I need fixing. However, I DO think that there is a HUGE place for research into acquired hydrocephalus and understanding the impact of concussive injuries on the brain, in general as well as it relates to hydro. Personally, I would have liked to have seen some $$ required to be dedicated to brain research and awareness for the kids, parents, doctors and coaches.
It was a big deal when it became illegal to keep a kid in play after a possible head injury in school contact sports. It was a step in the right direction. The only 'cure' for acquired cases of hydro is PREVENTION. Doing everything possible to prevent hydro is going to lessen the number of cases--be that acquired through a brain bleed or through head trauma--be that in sports or on the battlefield.
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