Researcher’s concussion diagnostic tool
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When a child suffers a brain injury their parents may be left wondering what to do to improve the situation. Where concussions are concerned, historically this has been an issue, not only for parents, but health care providers as well. Difficulties in determining the severity of a head injury can make it hard to know what treatment approach is best.
A tool recently created by pediatric specialists in Canada, may make it easier for physicians to make these determinations. Pediatric specialists located throughout the nation validated the tool. The tool involves the creation a scale that, depending on the score a patient is assigned, will predict the odds of the patient experiencing symptoms that are persistent, following a concussion. Those who score between nine and 12 fall into that group.
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Questions asked to help determine the score include whether the patient is experiencing poor balance, is bothered by loud noises and if they have headaches.
In addition to creating the tool, the study also uncovered other information that could be helpful to physicians treating children and teens who experienced concussions. For example, despite suffering fewer concussions than boys, the risk is twice is as high of having symptoms following a concussion, for girls.
While the study does not point to strategies for preventing brain injuries form occurring, its findings could improve the outcome for the young people who experienced the concussion. Because proper treatment is important to the recovery of someone who has a concussion, this study could ultimately help many.
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