Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - 41

IS BASELINE CONCUSSION
TESTING EFFECTIVE?

DOWNLOAD

Concussion Heads-up

Concussion screenings are now being used in sports at all levels-from
grade school to professional ranks. Tests can help set a baseline prior to a
For a wealth of helpful information about
concussion or determine whether an athlete is ready to return to play.
concussion-from prevention, common
But are these tests effective? "Absolutely," says Adam Shunk, PhD, a neuropsychologist with GMC's Concussion Institute. He provides some insight
signs and symptoms, and treatment
into how well one type of test, baseline concussion screenings, works.
options--download GMC's free Parent's
1. Effectiveness. "They are able to provide a direct comparison of a
Guide to Concussion Care at
person before and following an injury." explains Dr. Shunk. "This approach
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/concussion.
allows us to determine how a patient is recovering and when a patient can
safely transition back to school or work, as well as sports."
2. Sabotage. "There has been concern that individuals can manipulate
the results of their baseline screenings," says Dr. Shunk. "We utilize tools with
Look for Vision
embedded measures of validity and have specialty-trained experts that are skilled
Problems
at reading ImPACT tests, to avoid inaccurate screening results."
Issues with sight, such
"ImPACT Baseline testing is a critical tool in a clinician's toolkit," emphasizes Dr.
as blurry or double vision, can be
Shunk. "It should be used in conjunction with a comprehensive and multidisciplinary
approach to ensure a full recovery from concussion and a safe return to play."
challenging to detect-both by the

Watch for
Physical
Symptoms

PHOTO AND ICONS BY GETTY IMAGES

There are obvious physical signs
that warrant a trip to the emergency
department: loss of consciousness,
seizures or not being able to move
an arm or leg. But more subtle signs
including headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, or nausea and vomiting can also indicate a problem and
should be brought to the attention
of a doctor.

Don't Ignore
Emotional
Changes

"If your child is acting anxious,
or more emotional, sad or irritable than usual, it's something
you'll want to pay attention to,"
Raukar says.

Beware
Cognitive
Problems

You may not notice problems with
memory or concentration until your
child needs to use those skills, Raukar
says. Once at school, he or she
might have difficulties. "They may
just feel foggy," she says. "It's like
they're looking at the world through
a TV with rabbit ears rather than
high-def."

Monitor Sleep

Concussions tend to cause
sleep disturbances in one
of two ways: The individual might
feel tired and want to sleep all the
time, or he or she may have difficulty
falling asleep. "Lethargy is more
common, but it's usually one or the
other," Raukar says.

parent and the child-especially if
they are minor. But ask your child
about any vision problems and see
a doctor if you have concerns or
notice changes.

Assess Their
Balance

Balance problems aren't
always as noticeable as one might
think, Raukar says. And they can
develop a while after the incident.
Look for signs in the child's gait when
walking or if he or she seems to be
leaning to one side when standing.
If you're still not sure how to proceed-whether that means pulling
your child from play at school or taking him or her to the doctor, Raukar
recommends following the mantra,
"When in doubt, sit them out."
"You want to give them time to
rest and observe them, and definitely
take them to the doctor if you see
any of these symptoms," she says. ■

FALL 2018

41


http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/concussion

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018

Contents
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - Contents
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - 2
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