Some sports such as football are particularly violent and many players suffer concussions. Concussions can cause a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Although symptoms usually go away within a few weeks without treatment, they may persist, or complications (such as dementia) may occur. Recent evidence shows that even hits to the head that do not lead to a concussion can impair visual memory. Detecting concussions is thus becoming critical in high-contact sports.
A new test that can be performed at the sideline of sporting events seems to accurately detect concussions by looking at different types of eye movements that are usually abnormal after a concussion:
The test, called the King-Devick test, captures impairments of eye movement, attention, language and other symptoms of impaired brain function.
Tests of rapid number naming such as the King-Devick test are objective and [Read more…] about A Quick Test to Detect Athletes’ Concussions
