Concussion Aftermath Could Drag Down Teens' Grades

Efforts to preventconcussionsfrom happening at school or school-related sports activities may help keepteensfrom lagging behind on their academics.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Washington found that those who had a recentconcussioncould be 25% more likely than classmates to be in poor academic standing.

“History ofconcussionwas significantly associated with poor academic standing and experiencing multipleconcussionscould be particularly harmful on student outcomes,” according to study author Julian Takagi-Stewart, of Harborview InjuryPrevention& Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues.

About 2 million U.S. youth suffer aconcussion每年。研究人员想了解there was a link between a history of these temporary brain injuries andteens' academic standing.

For the study, they analyzed data on more than 10,000 teens who were part of the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey, which monitors health risks among U.S. students.

In all, about 15% of high school students reported having had at least one sports and activity-relatedconcussionduring the previous year. A majority were boys. Black students made up a higher proportion (nearly 16%) of those with two or more concussions, compared with about 11% who had no concussions and 9% who had one.

In all, 79% of students said they were in good academic standing, the findings showed.

Having at least one concussion in the past year was linked with a 25% higher risk of poor academic standing. This link was stronger for students with repeated concussions, according to the report published online Sept. 12 in the journalInjuryPrevention.

The researchers said several strategies could help.

“School-based injury prevention efforts, including promotion of helmet use, school screening for concussions and adherence to return-to-play and return-to-learn guidelines, to reduce multiple concussion in sports, particularly for racial and ethnic groups most affected, may prove beneficial to students with concussion,” the authors said in a journal news release.

Concussion is a temporarybrain injuryresulting from a blow to the head or to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. Those who have one may lose consciousness, become dizzy, get a glazed look in the eyes, have aheadacheor experienceamnesia.

No clear, standard guidance exists about reintegrating students with concussion back into academic work.

The researchers noted that all of the reports came from students and were not verified. The study also did not incorporate social and economic factors such as family income and where students lived.

更多的信息

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on concussion.

SOURCE:Injury Prevention,news release, Sept. 12, 2022

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

Copyright © 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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