TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related differences in neuropsychological testing among high school athletes
AU - Hunt, Tamerah N.
AU - Ferrara, Michael S.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Context: Clinicians have questioned the need to obtain annual baseline neuropsychological tests in high school athletes. If no difference among academic grades exists, annual baseline testing may not be necessary. Objective: To examine differences at baseline testing on pencil-and-paper neuropsychological tests among grade levels in high school athletes. Design: Cross-sectional, between-groups design. Setting: Schools participating in a Georgia high school athletics association. Patients or Other Participants: High school football players (n = 198) in the 9th through 12th grades, with a mean age of 15.78 ± 1.16 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants were divided into 4 groups by grade and were administered a symptom checklist and brief neuropsychological test battery. Grade level served as the independent variable. Symptom and individual test scores within the neuropsychological test battery served as dependent variables. Results: Differences were noted among grades on the Trail Making Test A (F3,194 = 3.23, P = .024, η2 = 0.048), Trail Making Test B (F3,194 = 3.93, P = .009, η2 = 0.057), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (F 3,194 = 4.38, P = .005, η2 = 0.064), dominant tap (F3,194 = 3.14, P = .026, η2 = 0.046), and nondominant tap (F3,194 = 4.902, P = .003, η2 = 0.070). Using the Bonferroni correction (P ≤ .00625), we found differences between the 9th grade and 11th and 12th grades. Conclusions: Baseline neuropsychological test scores in high school athletes improved as a function of age, with differences between the 9th grade and 11th and 12th grades. Because the differences were driven by 9th-grade test scores, baseline testing should be completed, at minimum, upon entrance into 9th and 10th grades; however, annual testing is still recommended until additional research is conducted.
AB - Context: Clinicians have questioned the need to obtain annual baseline neuropsychological tests in high school athletes. If no difference among academic grades exists, annual baseline testing may not be necessary. Objective: To examine differences at baseline testing on pencil-and-paper neuropsychological tests among grade levels in high school athletes. Design: Cross-sectional, between-groups design. Setting: Schools participating in a Georgia high school athletics association. Patients or Other Participants: High school football players (n = 198) in the 9th through 12th grades, with a mean age of 15.78 ± 1.16 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants were divided into 4 groups by grade and were administered a symptom checklist and brief neuropsychological test battery. Grade level served as the independent variable. Symptom and individual test scores within the neuropsychological test battery served as dependent variables. Results: Differences were noted among grades on the Trail Making Test A (F3,194 = 3.23, P = .024, η2 = 0.048), Trail Making Test B (F3,194 = 3.93, P = .009, η2 = 0.057), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (F 3,194 = 4.38, P = .005, η2 = 0.064), dominant tap (F3,194 = 3.14, P = .026, η2 = 0.046), and nondominant tap (F3,194 = 4.902, P = .003, η2 = 0.070). Using the Bonferroni correction (P ≤ .00625), we found differences between the 9th grade and 11th and 12th grades. Conclusions: Baseline neuropsychological test scores in high school athletes improved as a function of age, with differences between the 9th grade and 11th and 12th grades. Because the differences were driven by 9th-grade test scores, baseline testing should be completed, at minimum, upon entrance into 9th and 10th grades; however, annual testing is still recommended until additional research is conducted.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Cognitive maturity
KW - Concussions
KW - Mild traumatic brain injuries
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650410435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4085/1062-6050-44.4.405
DO - 10.4085/1062-6050-44.4.405
M3 - Article
C2 - 19593423
AN - SCOPUS:67650410435
SN - 1062-6050
VL - 44
SP - 405
EP - 409
JO - Journal of Athletic Training
JF - Journal of Athletic Training
IS - 4
ER -