Baseline profiles of auditory, vestibular, and visual functions in youth tackle football players

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Travis White-Schwoch, Northwestern University; Jennifer Krizman, Northwestern University; Kristi McCracken, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Jamie K Burgess, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Elaine C Thompson, Emory University; Trent Nicol, Northwestern University; Nina Kraus, Northwestern University; FR Labella, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-01-01
• Publisher: Future Medicine Ltd
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Nina Kraus et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/cnc-2019-0008
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Concussion
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 4
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Faculty Practice Plan and the Knowles Hearing Center.
• Keywords: sensory systems; concussion; frequency-following response; clinical testing
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Neurosensory tests have emerged as components of sport-related concussion management. Limited normative data are available in healthy, nonconcussed youth athletes. Patients & methods/results: In 2017 and 2018, we tested 108 youth tackle football players immediately before their seasons on the frequency-following response, Balance Error Scoring System, and King-Devick test. We compared results with published data in older and/or and nonathlete populations. Performance on all tests improved with age. Frequency-following response and Balance Error Scoring System results aligned with socioeconomic status. Performance was not correlated across neurosensory domains. Conclusion: Baseline neurosensory functions in seven 14-year-old male tackle football players are consistent with previously published data. Results reinforce the need for individual baselines or demographic-specific norms and the use of multiple neurosensory measures in sport-related concussion management.