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Visual test effective in diagnosing concussions in collegiate athletes

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A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have determined the efficacy of a sideline test in detecting concussions in collegiate athletes.

The King-Devick (KD) test, originally used as a dyslexia test, detects impaired eye movements and rapid eye movements that indicate diminished brain function. This quick visual test, according to the study findings, holds promise as a complement to other diagnostic tools for sports-related concussions. It involves the athlete reading a series of numbers on cards. Performance is scored based on speed and accuracy.

The study’s findings were published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

“This test has demonstrated its ability to provide objective evidence to aid medical professionals and trainers in determining which athletes need to come out of games after a blow to the head,” study author Laura J. Balcer, MD, stated in a University of Pennsylvania press release.

Balcer and her team performed a longitudinal study on collegiate varsity football, sprint football, women’s and men’s soccer and basketball teams, with the 219 participants undergoing baseline K-D testing before the 2010-2011 season. The participants also underwent postseason K-D testing. Athletes who sustained concussions during the course of the season underwent sideline K-D testing immediately, and changes from baseline scores were determined.

The authors found postseason K-D scores to be better than preseason scores, which they wrote reflected “mild learning effects in the absence of concussion.” Ten athletes in the study sustained concussion, with sideline K-D testing showing significant worsening from baseline measurements — a median drop in test completion speed of 5.9 seconds.

“We’ll continue to measure the test’s effectiveness in different groups — players who play on the same position who have and have not suffered concussions, for instance,” Balcer stated. “It is our hope that the new test, once validated, can be folded into the current sideline battery of tests for concussion, as no single test at this time can be used to diagnose or manage concussion.”

Reference:

• Galetta KM, Brandes LE, Maki K, et al. The King-Devick test and sports-related concussion: Study of a rapid visual screening tool in a collegiate cohort. J Neurol Sci. 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2011.07.039.

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