Furthermore, neurological and radiological procedures frequently are not sensitive to the effects of mild head injury, rendering medical diagnosis quite problematic. Neuropsychological testing has proved to be more sensitive even to the subtle effects of a single mild concussion 24 hours post-injury. No athlete with any symptoms should return to play. The use of neuropsychological testing in professional athletes has become a standard that now is encouraged at the college and high school levels of play across the country. Neuropsychological testing is being used in preseason baseline testing of young athletes to determine their standard levels of neuropsychological functioning.
Baselines provide data against which to compare test results that are gathered post-injury.
A full, comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is performed on an athlete after an injury has been sustained to more thoroughly assess areas of possible dysfunction or damage and to devise a cognitive rehabilitation treatment plan. PCS is an insidious disorder that often is misdiagnosed, dismissed, ignored, or denied. The afflicted individual will present with what seems to be vague psychological complaints. The longer the disorder remains untreated, the more difficult the recovery and adjustment. Treatment for PCS can include cognitive rehabilitation, biofeedback, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, relaxation training, and hypnosis.