Although the convergent validity of ImPACT was supported , evidence of discriminant and predictive validity , diagnostic accuracy and responsiveness was inconclusive .
The review found many factors influenced the validity and utility of ImPACT scores .
Background The immediate post concussion assessment and cognitive testing ( ImPACT ) is the most widely used concussion assessment tool .
Despite its popularity , it is unclear if validation studies for the ImPACT test covered all aspects of validity to support its widespread use in research and clinical practice .
Objective The purpose of this report is to review literature surrounding the validity and the utility of the ImPACT test .
Relationship between Postconcussion Headache and Neuropsychological Test Performance in High School Athletes
Background : The relevance of headache to outcome after sports-related concussion is poorly understood . Hypotheses : High school athletes reporting headache approximately 1 week after injury will have significantly more other concussion symptoms and will perform more poorly on neuropsychological tests than athletes not experiencing headache . Study Design : Prospect i ve cohort study . Methods : Study participants included 109 high school athletes who had sustained concussion and who were divided into two groups : those reporting headache 7 days after injury and those reporting no headaches . The two groups were compared regarding on-field markers of concussion severity at the time of injury and symptoms and neurocognitive test results collected via ImPACT , a computerized neuropsychological test battery and postconcussion symptom scale , at a mean of 6.8 days after injury . Results : Athletes reporting posttraumatic headache demonstrated significantly worse performance on reaction time and memory ImPACT neurocognitive composite scores . These athletes also reported significantly more symptoms other than headache and were more likely to have demonstrated on-field antero grade amnesia . Conclusions : Findings suggest that any degree of postconcussion headache in high school athletes 7 days after injury is likely associated with an incomplete recovery after concussion
Although the convergent validity of ImPACT was supported , evidence of discriminant and predictive validity , diagnostic accuracy and responsiveness was inconclusive .
The review found many factors influenced the validity and utility of ImPACT scores .
Background The immediate post concussion assessment and cognitive testing ( ImPACT ) is the most widely used concussion assessment tool .
Despite its popularity , it is unclear if validation studies for the ImPACT test covered all aspects of validity to support its widespread use in research and clinical practice .
Objective The purpose of this report is to review literature surrounding the validity and the utility of the ImPACT test .