Study sheds light on a medical accessibility
issue, the need for alternative or modified concussion assessment
norms and the need for baseline testing
PHILADELPHIA, March 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Schools and colleges across the
country rely on Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and
Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) evaluations to assess and manage
student-athlete concussions on the sidelines. However, this
FDA-cleared tool is not recommended for student-athletes with
neurodevelopmental disorders, who often score significantly lower
than neurotypical individuals. New research published Feb. 13 in the Archives of Clinical
Neuropsychology demonstrates the need for alternative or
modified concussion assessment norms and the need for baseline
testing for autistic athletes.
"Given the findings of the current study and other recent
studies, there is a clear need for ImPACT normative reference data
specifically for student-athletes with autism spectrum disorder
(ASD)," says Philip Schatz, PhD,
principal investigator and professor of psychology at Saint Joseph's University. "The [neuropsychology]
field needs to expand assessment and interpretation practices and
procedures for people with ASD and related developmental
conditions."
Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), learning disorder (LD) and ASD are not included in
normative reference data. This means when autistic athletes are
assessed for a concussion, their data is compared to age- and
gender-similar neurotypical individuals. Therefore, the utility and
accuracy of widely used test measures like the ImPACT test
decreases.
Within the United States, the
prevalence of ASD has increased over the past 20 years, from
1-in-150 children in 2000 to 1-in-36 children in 2020. Nearly 91%
of adolescents with ASD reported liking sports and exercise,
meaning the potential for concussive injuries in this population is
high. Furthermore, previous research at Saint
Joseph's University has shown that exercise can be helpful
in treatment for ASD.
"This is a medical accessibility issue," says Joseph McCleery, PhD, assistant professor of
psychology and executive director of academic programs in the
Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support and co-author on the
study. "We need to make medicine more neurodivergence friendly.
Research like this is an important first step toward fixing the
problem."
The research team points to the study as a critical first step
in creating normative reference values for young athletes with ASD,
and looks forward to continuing their research as part of a larger
conversation of neuroinclusive care.
"Athletes' developmental diagnosis was self-reported in this
study," says Schatz. "Moving forward, we will need a more objective
way of measuring this factor. We also will need to evaluate the
utility of various concussion assessment measures. I look forward
to the future, as it is important everyone receives effective
concussion management, including people who are on the autism
spectrum."
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SOURCE Saint Joseph's University