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Concussion Research: Assessment & Concussion Screening

Assessing Concussion

The following standardized tools are currently used by physicians and licensed healthcare professionals to assess athletes, both youth and adult, for concussion.

These include:

  • ACE
  • K-D Test
  • SCAT5
  • VOMS Assessment

The Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5) is designed for use by non-medically trained people to recognize concussion symptoms in athletes. 

Is it a Concussion?

Existing concussion research addresses the challenges in distinguishing physiologic post-concussion disorder from a cervicogenic or vestibular post-concussion disorder.

ACE

Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE) 

The ACE, developed by Gerald Giola and Micky Collins at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is an evaluation tool for concussion in patients aged 3 to 18. There is a Physician and Clinician office ACE form and an Emergency Department ACE form

ACE Care Plans for work or school help guide a patient's recovery. 

K-D Test

King-Devick Test

The King-Devick Test is a two-minute rapid number naming assessment in which an individual quickly reads aloud single digit numbers. This evaluates impairments of eye movements, attention and language function. Developed in 1976 by two optometrists, Alan King and Stephen Devick, the King-Devick test found its first success with young children in detecting learning disabilities, including dyslexia. It has since been found to be an effective tool for identifying concussion in athletes.

 

SCAT5

Sport Concussion Assessment Tool - 5th Edition

The Adult SCAT5 is a standardized tool for healthcare professionals used to evaluate athletes aged 13 or older for concussion. This tool supersedes all earlier tools. The 9 metrics to measure concussion symptoms include red flags, memory assessment - Maddocks Questions, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) examination, Cervical spine assessment, Symptom evaluation, Cognitive screening, Neurological screening, Balance examination, and Delayed recall. 

Sport Concussion Assessment Tool - 5th edition, for children ages 5 to 12 years

The Child-SCAT5 is a standardized tool for healthcare professionals used to evaluate athletes between the ages of 5 and 12 for concussion. This tool supersedes all earlier tools. 

VOMS Assessment

A Brief Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) Assessment to Evaluate Concussion

This paper was published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine in October 2014 and provides a new & brief screening process to assess vestibular and ocular impairments after concussions.