An overwhelming majority of both athletes returning to the classroom after a concussion and their parents are "very concerned" that academic performance will be negatively affected, finds a recent survey [1].
Majorities of both athletes and parents surveyed called for schools to do more to support the recovery of students from concussions through academic accommodations [2], such as extra time to complete tasks, reduced homework, and rest breaks.
Researchers at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (CNMC) posed ten questions to a group of 55 children, age 10-18 years, and their parents, referred to the concussion clinic at the center within 60 days of a diagnosis of concussion. Three quarters of the concussions were sports-related. Nine in ten had returned to school after missing an average of 4.4 days. Nearly one in five (18.5%) had missed no days of school.
The findings point to a "need in schools across the country for systematic post-concussion academic support and management," wrote lead author, Gerard A. Gioia, Ph. D., Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology and Director of Safe the Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program at CNMC and Associate Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics & Psychiatry at George Washington Univ. School of Medicine.
"While states have passed legislation [3] to implement policies on athletic return-to-play guidelines [4] for injured student-athletes," Dr. Gioia argues, "the same attention must be directed to formal policies and procedures to support the recovery of the student [in the classroom]." "Structured return-to-school programs would prepare personnel to provide active support and management to students who have sustained concussions. The school system must be prepared to build these supports specific to that student's individual needs," says Dr. Gioia.
October 27, 2013 update: For an article discussing detailed recommendations contained in a 2013 clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics [1] on the kind of adjustments that may be necessary to help a concussed student-athlete successfully return to the classroom, click here. [5]
Source: Children's National Medical Center
1. Halstead ME, et al. Clinical Report - Returning to Learning Following a Concussion. Pediatrics doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2867 (epub October 27, 2013).
Posted April 24, 2011; revised October 27, 2013
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3393
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3319
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3015
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/128
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/6780
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/academic/post-concussion-strategies-for-the-classroom
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/memory/recovering-from-concussion-teachers-play-important-role
[8] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/return-to-play/concussion-return-to-play-step-by-step-approach-recommended
[9] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/parents-critical-participants-in-recognition-treatment-recovery-concussion
[10] https://mail.momsteam.com/academic-accommodations/ensure-successful-return-to-classroom-after-concussion--says-pediatrics-group