Question

What are the following procedures in evaluating a concussion: testing eye signs, testing balance, testing coordination, testing cognition

Answer 1

ANSWER:-

1. TESTING EYE SIGNS:- VOMS -- Using a metronome and a popsicle stick with a small sticker, therapists ask patients to move their heads and focus their eyes on the image. Using a tape measure they check convergence, the point near the eyes where vision gets blurry.

2. TESTING BALANCE :- BESS -- The BESS consists of 3 tests lasting 20 seconds each, performed on a firm surface (grass, turf, court) and a piece of medium-density foam, all with the eyes closed, and scored based on the number of errors across trials:

• The athlete first stands with the feet narrowly together, the hands on the hips, and the eyes closed (double leg stance). The athlete holds this stance for 20 seconds while the number of balance errors (opening the eyes, hands coming off hips, a step, stumble or fall, moving the hips more than 30 degrees, lifting the forefoot or heel, or remaining out of testing position for more than 5 seconds) are recorded as errors.
• The test is then repeated with a single-leg stance using the non-dominant foot, and
• A third time using a heel-toe stance with the non-dominant foot in the rear (tandem stance).

3. TESTING COGNITION:-

Common Neuropsychological Tests Used in Concussion Assessment
Neuropsychological Test	Cognitive Domain
Controlled Oral Word Association	Verbal Fluency
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test	Verbal learning, immediate and delayed memory
Trail Making: Parts A and B	Visual scanning, attention, information processing speed, psychomotor speed
Wechsler Letter Number Sequencing Test	Verbal working memory
Wechsler Digit Span: Digits Forward and Digits Backward	Attention, concentration
Symbol Digit Modalities Test	Psychomotor speed, attention, concentration
Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test	Attention, concentration
Stroop Color Word Test	Attention, information processing speed