ImPACT Administrators

Information Course

Quantify the head injuries with a highly sensitive measure of brain function.

Protect the student athlete Help determine safe return to play. Help prevent cumulative effects of multiple concussions. Provides objective data to help determine athlete’s injury

status. Prevent lingering effects of concussion and potential

catastrophic injury.

WHAT DOES COMPUTERIZED NEUROCOGNITIVE TESTING ENABLE US TO DO?

FACTS AND STATISTICS

• An athlete who sustains concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion.

• ”Bell ringers” or mild concussions account for 75% of all concussive injuries.

• Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery.

• The best way to prevent problems with concussion is to manage them effectively when they occur.

• No athlete should return to play while experiencing symptoms of concussion.

ON-FIELD SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSIONConcussion Signs• Appears dazed• Confused about play• Answers question slowly• Personality/behavior

change• Forgets plays prior to hit• Retrograde amnesia• Forgets plays after hit• Anterograde amnesia• Loss of consciousness

Concussion Symptoms• Headache• Nausea• Balance problems• Double vision• Photosensitivity• Feeling sluggish• Feeling foggy• Change in sleep pattern• Cognitive changes

• Decreased Processing Speed• Short-Term Memory Impairment• Concentration Deficit• Irritability/Depression• Fatigue/Sleep Disturbance• General Feeling of “Fogginess”• Academic Difficulties

LATER SIGNS OF CONCUSSION:Post-Concussion Syndrome

Occurs in athletes with prior concussion following relatively minor second impact Second impact has been shown to occur up to 14 days post-

injury Athlete returns to competition before resolution of symptoms

Catastrophic increase in intracranial pressure Vasomotor paralysis, edema, massive swelling, herniation,

death

Most often occurs in athletes <21 years old Neurochemical processes appear to differ in developing brain

SECOND IMPACT SYNDROME

Return to Play

• Current guidelines are not data driven.

CT and MRI insensitive to subtleties of injury

• CAT scans & the standard MRI Scans do not indicate if there are physiological changes in the concussed brain – since these instruments study structure and not FUNCTION.

Self-report determines management directives

Variability in physician recommendations

SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSION:Topics of Concern

• No athlete should return to play with symptoms of concussion.

• All athletes should be properly evaluated after concussion.• Football has greatest risk• Soccer, wrestling, hockey, lacrosse, girls/boys

basketball, cheerleading also carries significant risk

• ImPACT is currently available as an effective clinical “tool” for all levels of contact sport participation.

• Proper management of concussion is the best form of prevention.

What we know………..

• Computerized test developed by clinical researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

• Developed to allow for a more objective assessment of concussion and recovery.

• Accounts for individual differences in cognitive ability and symptom reporting through the use of baseline testing.

• Provides a common metric which allows for effective collaboration between athletic trainers, coaches, physicians, and neuropsychologists in concussion management.

• Utilized throughout professional and amateur sports across the country and internationally.

ImPACT: A TOOL FOR EVALUATING CONCUSSION(Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing)

Demographic/Concussion History Questionnaire

Concussion Symptom Scale

• 21 Item Likert scale (e.g. headache, dizziness, nausea, etc)

Eight Neurocognitive Measures

• Measures domains of Memory, Working Memory, Attention, Mental Speed, Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Reaction Time, Processing Speed - Summary Scores

Detailed Clinical Report

• Automatically computer scored

• Outlines demographic, symptom, neurocognitive data

WHAT DOES ImPACT MEASURE?

ImPACT is easy to implement• Athletic trainer usually coordinates

• Baselines obtained as part of pre-season physical

• Follow up post injury with credentialed physician

• Refer to www.IndianaSportsConcussionNetwork.com for a list of physicians

ImPACT

• Concussions are one of the most serious medical problems at the High School level.

• Proper management of concussion is the best form of prevention of serious injury.

• An increasing number of schools are being sued each year for concussion mismanagement.

• Parents appreciate the information provided by ImPACT about their injured child.

Why Schools Should Use ImPACT

• Help determine severity of concussion.

• Provide valuable information to the athlete, parents, athletic trainers, physicians.

• Provide information on academic deficits associated with concussion.

• Promote safe return to play.

• Reduce liability for school districts.

If Used Correctly, ImPACT will…

• Prevent a concussion from occurring.

• Nothing prevents a concussion, but there are measure that can reduce the number and severity of concussions.

• Eliminate the risk of concussion.

ImPACT will NOT…

• NOT a substitute for medical evaluation/treatment or more extensive neuropyschological testing.

• NOT a stand-alone assessment program.

• NOT effective if clinician is naïve to specifics and complexities of data.

ImPACT is…

The ImPACT software package consists a Self-Report Symptom Questionnaire, a Concussion-History Form that precedes the neuropsychological measures, and seven cognitive tests of cognitive functioning:

Attention Span Working Memory Sustained Attention Selective Attention Non-verbal Problem Solving Reaction Time Visual Memory & Verbal Memory Response Variability

Administrating the test

• Minimum interval between baseline tests is 2 years.

• All examinations must be monitored by an athletic trainer, doctor, or other qualified medical professional who is familiar with the software.

• Test administrators should take the test a minimum of three times to become familiar with the test

• www.impacttestonline.com/impactdemo

• Pass code: KJZB2X8FHG

• Should understand the importance of obtaining a quality baseline test

Administrating the test

Group administration is encouraged to expedite baseline testing.

• Groups of 10-15 optimal

• Optimal performance is critical to establish “true” baseline.

• Encourage athletes to be honest and give a good effort.

• Close proctoring to minimize horseplay.

• Empty terminal between tester takers if possible.

• Must use external mouse (invalid without).

• Cannot use laptop touch-pad

Administrating the test

Administrating the test• Follow instructions provided for launching baseline tests.

• Will be provided after completion of this course

• Pull up website prior to athletes arriving to take test.

• Explain the test:

• Not intelligence test

• Want to complete as fast and accurately as possible

• Difficult – not going to get everything right

Administrating the test• The following slides:

• Sample screens of information gathered including demographics and concussion history.

• Symptom inventory and neuropsychological tests.

• Examples of the modules and descriptions of each.

► First Name

► Last Name

► Organization

► Height

► Weight

► Gender

► Handedness

► Country

► Native language

► Second language

- Years speaking

- Years in North America

► Years of education completed

► Check any of the following that apply

- Received speech therapy

- Attended special education classes

- Repeated one or more years of school

- Diagnosed ADD or Hyperactive

- Diagnosed learning disability

► Current sport

- Current position/event/class

- Current Level

► Years experience

Complete demographic information screen by screen and as a group.

Demographics

Number of times diagnosed with a concussion

Total number of concussions that resulted in loss of consciousness

Total number of concussions that resulted in confusion

Total number of concussions that resulted in difficulty with memory for events occurring immediately after injury

Total number of concussions that resulted in difficulty with memory for events occurring immediately before injury

Total games were missed as a direct result of all concussions combined.

List the 5 most recent concussions

Indicate whether you have experienced the following

Treatment for headaches by physician

Treatments for migraine headaches

Treatment for epilepsy/seizures

History of brain surgery

History of meningitis

Treatment for substance/alcohol abuse

Treatment for psychiatric condition (depression, anxiety, etc.)

Questions that will be asked of athletes.

• Necessary to gain accurate information for comparison of baseline test to subsequent post injury exams.

History

Sample Screens

CURRENT SYMPTOMS

Headache

Nausea

Vomiting

Balance Problems

Dizziness

Fatigue

Trouble falling asleep

Sleeping more than usual

Sleeping less than usual

Drowsiness

Sensitivity to light

Sensitivity to noise

Irritability

Sadness

Nervousness

Feeling more emotional

Numbness or tingling

Feeling slowed down

Feeling mentally foggy

Difficulty concentrating

Difficulty remembering

Visual problems (blurry or double vision)

Allow athletes to complete symptom inventory and neuropsychological tests at their own pace.

• 6 pages

Symptoms

Administrating the testThe test will begin after the completion of the “Current

Symptoms” screens.

• Encourage athlete to raise hand if they have questions.• Relay the importance of understanding the directions of

each module before proceeding.• Stress that athletes must respond as quickly as possible

on timed tests.

Module 1 (Word Discrimination)

• Evaluates attentional processes/verbal recognition memory • Utilizes a word discrimination paradigm • Twelve target words are presented for 750 milliseconds

• twice to facilitate learning of the list• The subject is then tested for recall via the presentation of

the 24-word list

Delay Condition: Following the administration of all other test modules (approximately 20 minutes), the subject is again tested for recall via the same method.

Module 1 (Word Discrimination)

• Comprised of 12 target words and 12 non-target words

• Words chosen from the same semantic category as the target word.

• EX: the word “ice” is a target word, while the word “snow” represents the non-target word.

• The subject responds by mouse-clicking the “yes” or “no” buttons

• Individual scores are provided both for correct “yes” and “no” responses

• In addition, a total percent correct score is provided.

• Evaluates attentional processes and visual recognition memory

• Utilizes a design discrimination paradigm • Twelve target designs are presented for 750 milliseconds

• twice to facilitate learning

• The subject is then tested for recall via the presentation of the 24-designs

Module 2 (Design Memory)

Module 2 (Design Memory)

• Comprised of 12 target designs and 12 non-target designs

• EX: target designs that have been rotated in space

• The subject responds by mouse-clicking the “yes” or “no” buttons

• Individual scores are provided both for correct “yes” and “no” responses

• In addition, a total percent correct score is provided

• Measures visual working memory, visual processing speed, and visual memory paradigm.

• Incorporates a distracter task. • The subject can practice the distracter task prior to

presentation of the memory task.• The distracter is a choice reaction time test: the subject is

asked to click the left mouse button if a blue square is presented and the right mouse button if a red circle is presented.

• Once the subject has completed this task, the memory task is presented.

Module 3 (X’s and O’s)

• Memory task: a random assortment of X’s and O’s is displayed for 1.5 seconds

• For each trial: three of the X’s or O’s are illuminated in YELLOW • the subject has to remember the location of

the illuminated objects

• Immediately after the presentation of the 3 X’s or O’s, the distracter task reappears on the screen.

• Following the distracter task, the memory screen (X’s and O’s) reappears and the subject is asked to click on the previously illuminated X’s and O’s.

• Scores are provided for correct identification of the X’s and O’s (memory), reaction time for the distracter task, and number of errors on the distracter task.

Module 3 (X’s and O’s)

Distracter test sample

• Evaluates visual processing speed, learning and memory

• Initially, the subject is presented with a screen that displays 9 common symbols (triangle, square, arrow, etc).

• Directly under each symbol is a number button from 1 to 9• Below this grid, a symbol is presented. • This module provides an average reaction time score and

a score for the memory condition.

Module 4 (Symbol Matching)

• The subject is required to click the matching number as quickly as possible and to remember the symbol/number pairings

• Correct performance is reinforced through the illumination of a correctly clicked number in GREEN. Incorrect performance illuminates the number button in RED.

• Following the completion of 27 trials, the symbols disappear from the top grid.

• The symbols again appear below the grid and the subject is asked to recall the correct symbol/number pairing by clicking the appropriate number button.

Module 4 (Symbol Matching)

• Represents a choice reaction time task and measures impulse control/response inhibition.

• First, the subject is required to respond by clicking a red, blue or green button as they are presented on the screen.

• This procedure is completed to assure that subsequent trials would not be affected by color blindness

• Next, a word is displayed on the screen in the same colored ink as the word.

• (e.g. RED), or in a different colored ink (GREEN or BLUE)

• In addition to providing a reaction time score, this task also provides an error score.

Module 5 (Color Match)

The subject is instructed to click in the box as quickly as possible only if the word is presented in the matching ink.

Module 5 (Color Match)

• Measures working memory and visual-motor response speed

• First, the subject is allowed to practice a distracter task

• Yields a memory score (total number of correctly identified letters) and a score for the average number of correctly clicked numbers per trial from the distracter test.

• Five trials of this task are presented for each administration of the test.

Module 6 (Three letters)

• Consists of 25 numbered buttons (5 x 5 grid).

• The subject is instructed to click as quickly as possible on the numbered buttons in backward order starting with “25.”

• Then they are presented with three consonant letters displayed on the screen.

• Immediately following display of the 3 letters, the numbered grid reappears and the subject is instructed to click the numbered buttons in backward order, again.

• After a period of 18 seconds, the numbered grid disappears and the subject is asked to recall the three letters by typing them from the keyboard.

• Both the number placement on the grid and letters displayed are randomized for each trial.

Module 6 (Three letters)

• No athlete should return to play while experiencing symptoms of concussion.

• Release from concussion should include:

• Decrease of signs and symptoms• ImPACT back to baseline • Normal neurological exam• Clinical judgment• Experience

• Second Impact occurs in athletes with prior concussion following relatively minor second impact. Has been shown to occur up to 14 days post-injury Athlete returns to competition before resolution of symptoms

• CT and MRI insensitive to subtleties of injury.

• CAT scans & the standard MRI Scans do not indicate if there are physiological changes in the concussed brain – since these instruments study structure and not FUNCTION.

Review

ImPACT • Accounts for individual differences in cognitive ability and symptom

reporting through the use of baseline testing

• Provides a common metric which allows for effective collaboration between athletic trainers, coaches, physicians, and neuropsychologists in concussion management

All examinations must be monitored by an athletic trainer, doctor, or other qualified medical professional who is familiar with the software

• Test administrators should take the test a minimum of three times to become familiar with the test

Review

• Group administration is encouraged to expedite baseline testing

• Optimal performance is critical to establish “true” baseline

• Encourage athletes to be honest and give a good effort

• Pull up website prior to athletes arriving to take test

• Complete demographic information screen by screen and as a group.

• Explain the test:

• Not intelligence test

• Want to complete as fast and accurately as possible

• Difficult – not going to get everything right

Review

• Encourage athlete to raise hand if they have questions

• Relay the importance of understanding the directions of each module before proceeding

• Stress that athletes must respond as quickly as possible on timed tests

Review

You have completed the online course for administering the ImPACT test.

Please complete the attached document and return for administration instructions and access code.

If there are any questions or problems please contact 317-571-8233 or concussion@methodistsports.com

Conclusion