Concussion Management
If you're the parent of an athlete, sports-related concussions may be a very real concern of yours. No matter what causes a concussion, it's a serious brain injury that requires appropriate care. Children's Medical Group offers cutting-edge technology in this field through the use of ImPACT* (Immediate-Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). Used by professional sports teams and leading medical centers around the world, ImPACT is a computerized assessment tool that measures brain function. It helps diagnose and manage a concussion and assists us in deciding when a child may safely return to a sport or activity. For more information about concussions and how ImPACT can be used to help your child, please see our guide below. Learn more about these tests and our special program at the Pediatric Resource Center.
About Concussions
A concussion is a traumatic injury that disrupts normal brain function. Its symptoms may include confusion, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Recognizing that a concussion has occurred—in addition to receiving the appropriate treatment—is one of the most challenging aspects of this type of injury. There are as many as 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions per year in the United States, yet many of them go unreported due to lack of knowledge and failure to understand the severity of this type of injury.
Proper Management Of Concussions
A major concern in the treatment of concussions is a child returning to their sport or activity before they're fully recovered. This can have serious consequences, such as prolonged post-concussion syndrome or second impact syndrome, which can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Proper management of concussions can decrease the risk of these complications.
While recent attention and new research means concussions are better understood now than ever before, there is still much we don't know. What we do know is that when a concussion is suspected, we need to:
- Recognize the concussion has occurred.
- Never allow a child to return to a game when it's suspected they may have a concussion.
- Seek medical help.
- Ensure the child completely recovers from the injury.
- Use a progressive (or gradual) return-to-play protocol.
- Only allow a child to return to their sport when they are fully recovered both at rest and with exertion and are neurocognitively normal as determined by ImPACT testing.
ImPACT Testing
ImPACT is a tool that assists in evaluating a patient's recovery following a concussion, helping clinicians make safe return-to-play decisions. It involves a neurocognitive computer test that evaluates different areas of brain function—such as attention span, working memory, and reaction time—that are affected when a concussion occurs. It takes approximately 20 minutes and can be administered both pre-season to determine an athlete's baseline neurocognitive function (see additional information on baseline testing below) as well as post-injury to track a concussion. If a child is suspected of suffering a concussion, testing should be completed within two to four days of the injury.
Baseline Testing Using ImPACT
Any child participating in a sport may benefit from having a baseline test completed. In the event of a suspected concussion, the pre-injury and post-injury test results are compared. Some basic information regarding the test:
- It's available for athletes ages 11 and older.
- It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
- It is done pre-injury or pre-season.
- Appointments can be made at the front desk.
- The test requires a consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
- It costs $40 and is not covered by insurance (whereas post-injury testing is covered by most insurance carriers).
Please call our team today at (203) 288-4288 to schedule a wellness visit for your child or to ask any questions.
Helpful Links
For more information on concussions in children, visit these websites:
SportsConcussions.org | CDC.gov: Concussions and Return To Play
*ImPACT test results are used as only one source of information regarding an athlete's level of functioning. Diagnostic and return-to-play decisions should be based on a full evaluation from a medical professional. For more information about ImPACT, visit impacttest.com.