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King-Devick cofounder: ODs should lead charge against brain injury
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ATLANTA – A speaker here at SECO advocated optometrists taking the time to educate athletes, coaches, parents, teachers and other medical personnel regarding concussion detection.
Steve Devick, OD, cofounder of the King-Devick Test for Concussions, explained how the test measures saccadic eye movements, capitalizing on the fact that vision accounts for more than 55% of the brain’s pathways.
The King-Devick Test is a remove-from-play test designed to determine brain injuries on the sidelines by evaluating rapid number naming and eye movements. Athletes take the 2-minute test by reading single-digit numbers on cards or on an iPad after possible head trauma, the company website explains. The time is compared with the athlete’s baseline test, which was taken before the suspected injury. If the time is longer than the baseline, it is presumed that the athlete has a brain injury or concussion and should be removed from the game.
Devick said that all 50 states have passed laws against allowing children to participate in a sport when a concussion is diagnosed.
“The problem is that, so far, the law hasn’t given coaches the tools to tell them when [children should be removed from play,] so more schools are using King-Devick,” he said.
According to Devick in his presentation, the American College of Sports Medicine estimates that 85% of concussions go undiagnosed, and 40% of concussed athletes continue to play through their injury.
“It’s an epidemic in this country – a silent epidemic,” Devick said. “Optometrists should be leading the charge.”
Devick told PCON: "Research has shown that the defect that causes the 'fail' in King-Devick test usually lasts for at least 60 hours – and in 20% of concussions, much longer than that. So there's plenty of time to go see your optometrist."
According to numerous studies published in journals such as Neurology and the Journal of the Neurological Sciences, the King-Devick test consistently detects witnessed concussions as well as identifies concussions in those who had not reported or shown any symptoms or signs or who has passed other detection tests, Devick said in his presentation. Studies have also shown that baseline test scores remained unaffected by physical fatigue.
Devick also said studies have shown that a combination of tests is likely the best way to confirm a brain injury.
The King-Devick test can be administered by anyone, and Devick recommends that coaches, parents and optometrists use it to monitor for the possibility of brain injury. – by Chelsea Frajerman
Disclosure: Devick is cofounder and CEO of King-Devick Test.