Concussion baseline testing is an effective way to compare pre and post-injury brain function. This article aims to cover your questions about concussion baseline testing. Read on to learn why this exam is an essential step before your child participates in sports.
If you would like to know more about concussion baseline tests, contact SportSafe. Our concussion experts have your child’s best interests in mind, helping them return to sports safely.
A baseline concussion test is an exam used to evaluate an athlete’s baseline brain function in the areas of cognition and balance. The test is done pre-season to establish the child’s typical performance. If your child has a traumatic brain injury, the test can help determine the extent and when it is safe for them to return to sports.
The exam will test cognitive abilities such as memory skills, attention, concentration, and problem-solving. Some baseline tests also include balance testing. The exam can also determine if the athlete is already displaying concussion symptoms.
There are various concussion baseline tests and most are done electronically, either on a computer or smartphone. Commonly used baseline concussion tests include ImPACT, Axon/CogSport, SWAY, BioSway, and SportGait.
Most high schools provide baseline testing before your child participates in contact sports, but this is not commonly offered in elementary or middle school. Speak with your child’s athletic trainer to see what they offer. If your child’s school does not offer baseline testing, it may be a good idea to get it done through an outside source.
Baseline concussion testing is very helpful in determining whether an athlete has a suspected concussion. The test helps a healthcare professional compare your brain function before and after a head injury.
Typically, a concussion will result in a drop in cognitive function and/or balance. When this is seen, we continue to monitor test results until becoming symptom free, when testing typically returns to baseline, and we can determine it’s safe to return to full academic and athletic participation.
A concussion baseline test allows a pre-injury comparison after an injury has occurred. When comparing a baseline to post-injury results, we can determine the extent of a head injury and monitor improvement. It gives us a benchmark that should be returned to, assuring full healing has occurred, and allowing safe return to academic and athletic participation.
Children who participate in contact sports or who are at risk of a head injury should undergo baseline concussion testing. Your child should get a baseline concussion test before the beginning of each sports season.
It is generally recommended that most aspects of baseline testing be repeated every year (in elementary and middle school) and every other year (in high school) to get an accurate idea of normal brain function.
A trained healthcare professional who understands concussions should interpret the results of a baseline exam. All components of the baseline exam should be considered before a child returns to sports or activity.
SportsSafe offers two concussion baseline tests: ImPACT and Sway. Both include a cognitive component, but Sway also evaluates balance, providing a more complete assessment. These tests may be used for both baseline and post-injury evaluations.
Baseline testing can be completed at home. Results are emailed to you and saved in your child’s chart for future comparison if an injury occurs.
If your child sustains a concussion, we will review the recommended post-injury testing plan during the visit, including ideal timing and re-testing instructions. If baseline testing was not completed before the injury, we can still provide accurate guidance by comparing results to age- and grade-based norms and establishing a new baseline when appropriate.
Please choose one baseline test—completing more than one is unnecessary and provides duplicate information. Tests can be completed online at home using a computer or smartphone, depending on the option selected.
If you have questions about which test is the best fit for your child or need help getting started, please email sportssafeprovider@pediatricassociates.net.
Click the Learn More button below each test for additional details and to purchase and complete your selected test at home.
Age: 12 and older
Test components: cognitive function
Requirements: Personal computer
Length: 25-30 minutes
Cost: $25 (paid via PayPal)
Results: Email after completion for results (sportssafeprovider@pediatricassociates.net)
Age: 9 and older
Test components: cognitive function and balance assessment
Requirements: Smart phone app
Length: 10-20 minutes (based on age)
Cost: $30 (paid via PayPal)
Results: Results will be appear in the Sway app after test completion and a copy will be emailed to you. With questions about results, email sportssafeprovider@pediatricassociates.net.
ImPACT is a cognitive-only concussion baseline test that evaluates memory and reaction time. Baseline testing allows comparison to post-injury performance and helps guide safe return to school and sports. While newer tools now assess additional areas such as balance, ImPACT continues to provide valuable cognitive data.
ImPACT testing is completed at home on a personal computer and takes approximately 25–30 minutes. Results are saved in your child’s chart for future comparison.
For instructions, click the link below.
Questions? Email sportssafeprovider@pediatricassociates.net.
Sway provides a more comprehensive concussion baseline, combining cognitive and balance testing in one assessment. Because both areas can be affected after a concussion, this allows for a more complete comparison before return-to-play clearance.
If your child has previously completed baseline testing with another program (such as ImPACT or SportGait), those results remain useful for post-injury comparison. When updating a baseline, families may choose to continue with prior testing or transition to Sway.
Sway testing is completed at home using a smartphone app and takes about 10-20 minutes, depending on age. Results are emailed to you and saved in your child’s SportsSafe chart for future comparison.
For instructions, click the link below.
Questions? Email sportssafeprovider@pediatricassociates.net.
