The importance of proper administration and interpretation of neuropsychological baseline and postconcussion computerized testing.
Media coverage, litigation, and new legislation have resulted in a heightened awareness of the prevalence of sports concussion in both adult and youth athletes. Baseline and postconcussion testing is now commonly used for the assessment and management of sports-related concussion in schools and in youth sports leagues. With increased use of computerized neurocognitive sports concussion testing, there is a need for standards for proper administration and interpretation. To date, there has been a lack of standardized procedures by which assessments are administered. More specifically, individuals who are not properly trained often interpret test results, and their methods of interpretation vary considerably. The purpose of this article is to outline factors affecting the validity of test results, to provide examples of misuse and misinterpretation of test results, and to communicate the need to administer testing in the most effective and useful manner. An increase in the quality of test administration and application may serve to decrease the prevalence of invalid test results and increase the accuracy and utility of baseline test results if an athlete sustains a concussion. Standards for test use should model the American Psychological Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as the recent findings of the joint position paper on computerized neuropsychological assessment devices.
a Sports Concussion Center of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, and International Brain Research Foundation , Flanders , New Jersey.
Rosemarie Scolaro
RS
Moser
Philip
P
Schatz
Jonathan D
JD
Lichtenstein
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States
concussion assessment and management; mild traumatic brain injury; sports-related concussion