Baseline Testing for Concussions (for Kids that play sports) - Any opinions?

hans

Jul 22, 2013 at 9:55am Edited

Has anyone had concussion baseline testing done for their kids? Any opinion either way?

Soul_29

Jul 22, 2013 at 10:13am

Yes. My oldest had this done and subsequently suffered a concussion ... Not sure if I have an opinion about the testing ... I guess there's not harm in it ...

max_weisenfeld

Jul 22, 2013 at 11:21am Edited

My memory is ironically vague here but I think the High School now requires it.

I certainly do not think it is a bad thing. Cannot hurt.

EBennett

Jul 22, 2013 at 11:27am

The high school where I teach does it for all athletes. The trainer considers it invaluable.

texasgal

Jul 22, 2013 at 12:42pm

High school does require it. For what it's worth, just got the forms for both kids today at their check ups and plan to do it. Can't hurt and can only help is my take.
Terrie

Research indicates it's actually fairly important - there are recent studies (last few months) indicating that head injuries in youth sport lead to undiagnosed brain traumas that have implications for cognitive function in older age.

Sports codes in several countries other than the USA requires that higher levels of competition of youth sports with high risk factors for falls and head 'bumps' perform this testing - it's lead to very interesting reforms in practice and safety measures as well as better protection for the careers of these budding athletes.

joanne

Jul 22, 2013 at 12:57pm Edited

There was also this concussion article, in case you hadn't seen it:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_138698.html

Fractures, collisions and falls:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_138479.html (not necessarily while playing the sport yet still associated with the sport or the sports equipment) (not studied: the impact of the fractures with any brain trauma)

soccer study:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_137700.html

and there's more but don't ahve time to track them down.

gaijin

Jul 22, 2013 at 1:28pm

Definitely do it. There's nothing quite like sitting in the ER with your child and wishing that you had. Concussions are no joke.

lixouri

Jul 22, 2013 at 3:03pm

What gaijin said.

nakaille

Jul 22, 2013 at 3:05pm

Yes, CHS requires it and I think it makes sense for our athletes. My daughter has friends who have had repeated concussions in a range of sports.

joanne

Jul 22, 2013 at 3:10pm

Note the baseline testing isn't so much for the prevention of concussion: it's to establish brain trauma/damage especially later in the athlete's life. Testing by itself doesn't do much, especially if a kid has attention or concentration issues: someone who's hyped up in the middle of a game, and then injured, will still likely be all over the place in various reactions and responses when tested after an incident. What the baseline establishes is what may have changed some time AFTER the incident, so gives the parents and athlete better/objective grounds for insurance coverage or legal action if necessary.

country

Jul 22, 2013 at 5:02pm

Absolutely do it. My son got a moderately serious concussion that may not have been picked up had it not been for the baseline testing.

doulamomma

Jul 22, 2013 at 5:20pm

Is this new? I don't think my HSer has been tested

nakaille

Jul 22, 2013 at 5:29pm

Does your high schooler play for one of the teams? Those are the kids they seem to be testing. For girls I know that both softball and volleyball players are tested, and for good reason it turns out. I'd imagine that any contact sport or any sport where there is a risk of being bonked or falling or even just running into other kids would trigger the screening. But it is really geared toward the kids who are playing several hours a day, several days per week, which makes sense to me as these kids are at greater risk of sustaining a head injury.

doulamomma

Jul 22, 2013 at 5:36pm

He's on tennis team...I don't think he's had this test but since he's a pretty serious snowboarder, he should have the test - will ask his ped.

gaijin

Jul 23, 2013 at 2:42am

Exactly. It's not just the official school sports that pose a risk.

tug207

Aug 2, 2013 at 2:35am

What about testing for younger kids? My son about to do Pop Warner football. Where do you get this done?

Personally wish they had it when I was playing 20+ years ago in high school. No doubt I had an undiagnosed concussion or two in my day.

mod

Aug 2, 2013 at 3:56am

They have a testing facility at St Barnabus - Call Ped and get a prescription for the test.

lamojo

Dec 15, 2015 at 2:01pm

Hi - We're going through post-concussion treatment now, and I wanted to mention that I've learned that for adolescents/teens, the baseline testing needs to be repeated every 2 years. Our son was baselined at 10.5 years old. No one told us to repeat the test and he suffered a concussion at almost 13 - they weren't able to use his baseline at all. Reasoning is brain development etc over the time period.

They use averages for comparative purposes.

jmitw

Dec 15, 2015 at 3:21pm Edited

Definitely do it if you can....even if a child is not involved in sports. I have had about 6 concussions==2 did permanent damage. The 1st was in 1979...the last in 2002...even in 2002 the doctors blew me off...even telling me I could drive even though I couldn't see straight. I struggled after the 1st 1 in 1979, but no on realized it....prior to 2002, I could read a 300 page novel in a few hours and remember details....from 2002-2010 I couldn't even read a magazine article and remember the main information. I still struggle, but can read an easy novel and get the general idea....I still have a very hard time with details (especially data like names, ages, locations) as opposed to scenes.

If there is an injury, it can show the person is not themselves and should have accommodations in school/on the job.

none of my concussions were sports related...2 were caused by 7 year olds, 2 in car accidents, and a couple trip/falls

janea

Dec 15, 2015 at 4:47pm

You can go direct to the sports department at St. Barnabas without anything from the pediatrician for a nominal fee. Both my kids needed it for skiing programs, although cross-country at CHS did not require it. What surprised me was how different the baseline was for my 2 kids. Definitely shows that you want a "before" picture just in case you ever need an "after".

Formerlyjerseyjack

Dec 15, 2015 at 6:03pm Edited

If you are considering ordering a baseline as a record for what might happen to your kid going through life, that is one thing. If the desire for the record is based on your concern about the dangers of a particular sport, that is something else.

Regarding the "else," wouldn't it make sense to have your kid not play in a sport that is proving to result in permanent damage to their brains and bodies? If I was concerned about future concussions, I would not sign the permission slip in the first place. Increasingly, parents are making that decision.

xavier67

Dec 16, 2015 at 1:36am

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

If you are considering ordering a baseline as a record for what might happen to your kid going through life, that is one thing. If the desire for the record is based on your concern about the dangers of a particular sport, that is something else.

Regarding the "else," wouldn't it make sense to have your kid not play in a sport that is proving to result in permanent damage to their brains and bodies? If I was concerned about future concussions, I would not sign the permission slip in the first place. Increasingly, parents are making that decision.

This is the main reason why many parents are pulling their kids out of youth football. Can't say I blame them.

max_weisenfeld

Dec 16, 2015 at 8:26am

xavier67 said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

If you are considering ordering a baseline as a record for what might happen to your kid going through life, that is one thing. If the desire for the record is based on your concern about the dangers of a particular sport, that is something else.

Regarding the "else," wouldn't it make sense to have your kid not play in a sport that is proving to result in permanent damage to their brains and bodies? If I was concerned about future concussions, I would not sign the permission slip in the first place. Increasingly, parents are making that decision.

This is the main reason why many parents are pulling their kids out of youth football. Can't say I blame them.

That said, almost any sport has the potential for injury. The issue becomes, how great is the potential, vs how great is the benefit? My objection to football had more to do with a culture of trying to inflict pain on others. My kid played soccer, even though I knew there was a potential there for concussions as well.

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