With so much important information about COVID-19 testing in the news these days, it’s easy to forget about other forms of ongoing, necessary health testing. Now that current plans call for resumption of fall high school competition in most states this month, we wanted to remind parents and their athlete children that it’s not too late to request baseline concussion testing.
What Is Baseline Concussion Testing?
Since 2010, MAC Alliance has partnered with school systems and athletic trainers to offer neuropsychological computerized baseline tests. These tests are easy to employ and to take, and they provide an objective means of ascertaining a healthy student’s memory, reaction time, impulse control and other “skills” before a sports season is underway. Our MAC Alliance partners utilize tests like ImPACT® and even newer baseline/head-injury concussion assessment tools like RightEye®, BrainScope® One and Cambridge Brain Sciences.
If a baseline-tested student receives a head injury during a sports season, we can quickly re-test and compare their “injured” test to the “normal” test to see if the scores are similar. If there’s a change, we can address the deficit with therapies and also determine the best, safe return-to-play timing. This system of baseline testing is somewhat comparable to the baseline mammograms women have that can be used as comparison results for future testing.
Concussions Can Affect Brain Function, and Baseline Testing Helps Detect That
Concussions can actually temporarily, at least, affect the way the brain functions. Our thinking, judgement, reflexes, speech, balance and other factors of everyday life can alter. With baseline concussion testing, we measure healthy brain function before a sports season. When properly interpreted, the post-injury follow-up tests help healthcare practitioners understand what sorts of individual results can be expected so that possible traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms are not overlooked.
Supervised Concussion Baseline Testing is Best
Last year, an organization called the Sport Neuropsychology Society (SNS) noted that supervising testing under the auspices of qualified individuals (think athletic trainer, concussion physician), “greatly increases the likelihood of accurate and reliable test results, which is essential to support clinical decisions to return an athlete to play and return to school.”
Additionally, in a recent opinion piece in USA Today, neuropsychologist Mark Herceg similarly commented:
“With the increase in COVID-19 guidelines, safety rules and regulations, there may be a temptation to have student athletes complete baseline tests at home if they cannot find the time to do them at school, or to “streamline” the process. Conducting this assessment at home — without proper supervision, where the situation could not be controlled and/or the understanding of the assessment may be jeopardized — presents significant ethical and testing challenges. How can environmental control be guaranteed if someone were to take a baseline in their kitchen or living room with friends, cellphones, or family presenting as distractions? What about those student-athletes with learning disabilities or ADHD?”
Telemedicine is Still an Option
If you need a student athlete tested but in-person testing is not possible, check with your MAC Alliance partner for a telemedicine option. Professional monitoring with special instructions can be provided along with proper supervision to address the possible pitfalls of at-home testing. And keep in mind that, even if sports are again temporarily postponed or even cancelled, the baseline test stands as a critical basis for professionals to safely and securely review objective results in the future.
Interested in Baseline Testing for Your Athletes?
Contact us today to find out more about free baseline screenings available to school athletic programs and sports clubs.
