Concussion Test (CT)
Overview
The ImPACT battery is widely used by professional, college and high school teams. When a player is concussed, his or her performance must return to baseline levels before they are allowed to return to play. The ANAM battery of tests was developed for concussion management in the battlefield. Serious questions, however, have been raised about the reliability of both ImPACT and ANAM; further, it is dubious practice to rely on an athletic trainer and a CNT to diagnose or manage concussions. CNT’s with measures of reaction time, processing speed and motor speed will be sensitive to mild brain injuries and all of them are sensitive to the effects of moderate or severe brain injuries. In the clinic setting, they are useful for serial patient evaluation.
NOTE: THE CONCUSSION TEST AT WWW.NCNEUROPSYCH.COM IS FREELY AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED USERS FOR THE SERIAL EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN CONCUSSED. IT IS NOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT IT IS USEFUL FOR TRACKING RECOVERY WHEN USED BY A TRAINED CLINICIAN, AND WHEN THE DATA IS USED TOGETHER WITH OTHER APPROPRIATE CLINICAL MEASURES. BASELINE TESTING SHOULD INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO AND PREFERABLY THREE TRIALS OF THE CONCUSSION TEST. IF A PATIENT’S PERFORMANCE HAS NOT RETURNED TO BASELINE LEVELS, MEDICAL CONSULTATION SHOULD BE SOUGHT BEFORE HE OR SHE RETURNS TO PLAY OR PRACTICE.