TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing Preseason Baseline Cognitive Functioning in High School Student Athletes
T2 - A "Hybrid" Approach
AU - Ransom, Danielle M.
AU - Ahumada, Luis
AU - Amankwah, Ernest K.
AU - Katzenstein, Jennifer M.
AU - Goldenberg, Neil A.
AU - Mularoni, P. Patrick
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/10/1
Y1 - 2022/10/1
N2 - Objective: International consensus statements highlight the value of neuropsychological testing for sport-related concussion. Computerized measures are the most frequently administered assessments of pre-injury baseline and post-injury cognitive functioning, despite known measurement limitations. To our knowledge, no studies have explored the convergent validity of computerized Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and traditional, well-validated paper and pencil (P&P) neuropsychological tests in high school student athletes. This study aimed to assess a "hybrid"adolescent test battery composed of ImPACT and P&P measures to determine the extent of shared variance among ImPACT and P&P tests to inform comprehensive yet streamlined assessment. Method: Participants included male and female high school student athletes in the Southeastern United States participating in American football, hockey, and soccer who completed a battery of ImPACT and P&P tests (N = 69). Results: We performed principal component analysis with ProMax rotation to determine components of the hybrid battery that maximally accounted for observed variance of the data (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin factor adequacy = 0.71). Our analysis revealed four independent factors (Verbal Learning and Memory, ImPACT Memory and Speed, Verbal Processing Speed/Executive Functions, and Nonverbal Processing Speed/Executive Functions) explaining 75% of the variance. Conclusions: Findings of this study in adolescent student athletes support those from the adult literature demonstrating the independence of ImPACT and P&P tests. Providers should be aware of limitations in using standalone ImPACT or P&P measures to evaluate cognitive functioning after concussion. If confirmed in a larger, clinical sample, our findings suggest that a hybrid battery of computerized and P&P measures provides a broad scope of adolescent cognitive functioning to better inform recovery decisions, including return to play after concussion.
AB - Objective: International consensus statements highlight the value of neuropsychological testing for sport-related concussion. Computerized measures are the most frequently administered assessments of pre-injury baseline and post-injury cognitive functioning, despite known measurement limitations. To our knowledge, no studies have explored the convergent validity of computerized Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and traditional, well-validated paper and pencil (P&P) neuropsychological tests in high school student athletes. This study aimed to assess a "hybrid"adolescent test battery composed of ImPACT and P&P measures to determine the extent of shared variance among ImPACT and P&P tests to inform comprehensive yet streamlined assessment. Method: Participants included male and female high school student athletes in the Southeastern United States participating in American football, hockey, and soccer who completed a battery of ImPACT and P&P tests (N = 69). Results: We performed principal component analysis with ProMax rotation to determine components of the hybrid battery that maximally accounted for observed variance of the data (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin factor adequacy = 0.71). Our analysis revealed four independent factors (Verbal Learning and Memory, ImPACT Memory and Speed, Verbal Processing Speed/Executive Functions, and Nonverbal Processing Speed/Executive Functions) explaining 75% of the variance. Conclusions: Findings of this study in adolescent student athletes support those from the adult literature demonstrating the independence of ImPACT and P&P tests. Providers should be aware of limitations in using standalone ImPACT or P&P measures to evaluate cognitive functioning after concussion. If confirmed in a larger, clinical sample, our findings suggest that a hybrid battery of computerized and P&P measures provides a broad scope of adolescent cognitive functioning to better inform recovery decisions, including return to play after concussion.
KW - Athletes
KW - Brain concussion
KW - Computerized assessment
KW - Neuropsychological assessment
KW - Pediatrics
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U2 - 10.1093/arclin/acac023
DO - 10.1093/arclin/acac023
M3 - Article
C2 - 35570831
AN - SCOPUS:85140415889
SN - 0887-6177
VL - 37
SP - 1545
EP - 1554
JO - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
JF - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
IS - 7
ER -