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(Rockville, MD - November 13, 2007) According to research findings by Nancy Manasse-Cohick, PhD at California State University Los Angeles and Jerome Bornstein, MD of USC Keck School of Medicine, high school football players' lack of understanding about concussion is putting them at unnecessary risk for traumatic brain injury and 'second impact syndrome', caused when a player returns to play after a concussion.
Preliminary findings of the study will be presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Boston, Thursday November 15 and Friday November 16, 2007. Dr. Cohick will be available for interviews in Boston.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often considered the traumatic brain injury experts in public schools because of their expertise and training in helping patients build language and cognitive skills. This role in the schools positions SLPs to educate parents and student athletes in all sports about the warning signs and dangers of concussion.
In 2006, 305 high school athletes in Los Angeles Unified School District answered questions about their understanding of concussion, what the symptoms are, who determines whether they returned to play or practice after a hit, and how often they hit their head during a game or practice.
Preliminary results of the study are startling.
Even though school districts and athletic organizations often have appropriate procedures and guidelines in place to help determine when students can return to play after a head blow, it seems that student players are not aware of these guidelines.
- > 55% of players reported a harder-than-usual hit to the head during games and practice
- 42% of respondents reported returning to play in a game/practice even though deep down they knew they shouldn't
- Many athletes see the coach as the best person to make the decision to return to play. However, according to those athletes who responded, they believe the second person most frequently making this decision is the athlete themselves, just as often as a physician!
- Two-thirds of respondents said their coach discussed sports-related concussion with them, and these coaches should be commended for taking time from practice to discuss this issue
- But 70% of players didn't know/think their school had a policy about returning to play after an injury to the head.
- Nearly 50% of student athletes didn't know that you must be cleared by a physician after being "knocked out", with 33% believing they are okay to return to play the same game
- About half the respondents believe they can play/practice with a slight headache from a previous hit to their head. This belief is dangerous!
- This lack of knowledge is setting up the perfect storm for "second impact syndrome".
Top Five Tips for Student Athletes about Head Injuries
- Know the MINIMAL signs/symptoms of concussion: headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, poor concentration, forgetfulness, blurred vision
- You do NOT have to "black-out" (lose consciousness) to have a concussion
- Listen to your gut—if you don't think you should be playing, you're right! Tell your Coach or trainer right away.
- If you don't feel right DON'T play
- Not all concussions cause a serious injury but EVERY concussion should be taken seriously
Top Five Tips for Parents to know about Preventing Serious Brain Injury
- Know the MINIMAL signs/symptoms of concussion: such as personality change, headaches, forgetfulness, dizziness, nausea, confusion, blurred vision
- Talk to your child athlete after EVERY game and practice to find out if anything unusual happened that day
- Encourage your athlete to confide in you — a parent may be the only one he tells about symptoms of a concussion
- Find out what the policy is for return to play at your child's school (ask the coach, athletic director, or school principal)
- Not all concussions cause a serious injury but EVERY concussion should be taken seriously
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