Most studies on childhood concussion target adolescent athletes, ages 10-19. So we were pleased to read a recent study in The Journal of Pediatrics that focused on younger elementary school-age children with head injuries. The study was conducted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and published this month.
Childhood Concussions in Kids Under 11 Need Our Attention
In the CHOP study, researchers examined the electronic health records of more than 1,500 cases of childhood concussion in kids ages 5-11 for approximately one year, for a period from July 2014 through June 2015. We found some of the key findings very interesting, especially:
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Younger kids were under-tested for vision and balance issues.
Although these issues were discovered to be as common in this younger group as with the adolescents, with 2/3 reporting issues, in-depth testing wasn’t routinely conducted for the kids under the age of 11. According to the study, “only 42.9% patients initially seen in the emergency department or urgent care were examined in this manner.” And yet, of those kids who were assessed, 62.7% demonstrated deficits.
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Less than 25% of younger kids saw a specialist at some time during their patient care.
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Only 44% of parents were provided the critical information they needed to take to their children’s teachers to facilitate classroom accommodations to help young, concussed children with return-to-class learning.
These Childhood Brain Injury Findings Are a Big Deal
Younger kids need early intervention just as much as adolescents do, and we may not be meeting those needs properly in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices. According to lead author and sports medicine pediatrician Christiana L. Master, MD:
“Children ages 5 to 11 years diagnosed with a concussion had similar rates of visio-vestibular deficits to adolescents and we know that adolescents who have visio-vestibular deficits also have a greater likelihood of persistent symptoms and poorer outcomes. Our older youth really benefit from early intervention in the form of school accommodations, return to school and physical activity plans, and vestibular or vision therapy. We believe intervening early can also improve outcomes for younger children diagnosed with visio-vestibular deficits.”
MAC Alliance Concurs: Early Intervention for Childhood Concussion Is Essential
All children benefit from early intervention after a brain injury, whether it’s rehabilitation therapies, school accommodations and/or plans for return to school and regular activities. This study and others like it help reinforce how important it is for interventions to be provided for kids with childhood concussions, not just the older ones. All children (and older patients of course) benefit from receiving professional assessments that help define how to return to “normal” life (and physical activity in particular) after a brain injury or illness. These assessments are best provided by neurological experts who regularly deal with brain health.
Tools of the Trade for Childhood Concussions
At MAC Alliance, we use tests like EyeGuide Focus to help us analyze brain health after a concussion. This 10-second software test replaces the old “follow my finger” test. We capture and analyze eye movement objectively, providing meaningful information with immediate feedback to help us ensure well-being and diagnose and treat brain health. When it comes to a childhood concussion, this can be a powerful tool for screening and diagnosis.
We’ll often follow as needed with other computerized neurocognitive testing such as the FDA-approved ImPACT®, BrainScope®, and RightEye® tests and/or, most recently, Cambridge Brain Sciences (CBS). All of these tests help us diagnose, assess and treat your child’s concussion. And we are happy to work in conjunction with school nurses or athlete trainers as needed.
COVID-19 Virtual Assessments
While MAC Alliance partners are following strict infection control guidelines in our locations, we understand that some families may still be hesitant to visit in-person. If you are concerned about your child’s brain health and overall wellness but are unable or unwilling to bring them in to one of our locations, we can conduct virtual visits and assessments. Our goal is to continually increase patient accessibility without compromising quality of care.
Have any questions? Contact one of our locations nearest you and let us help!
