The ability to accurately diagnose concussions during athletic play could be bolstered by offering a simple 1-minute vision-based test alongside standard assessments.

This conclusion was announced by experts attending a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology and follows an evaluation of a rapid number-reading exam that quickly assesses an individual’s verbal, visual and concentration status.

After giving the vision-based test to 217 University of Florida athletes at the season start of men’s football and women’s soccer and lacrosse, 30 athletes went on to experience a concussion.

All took the vision-based test at the time of injury and nearly 80% took longer to complete compared with the season launch. When the vision-based test results were combined with standard assessment results, administrators found they were able to peg concussions with 100% accuracy.

And because athletes sometimes fail to report concussion symptoms, clinicians say the vision-based test could be an important tool to get a quick handle on the problem.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the news doctors are reading health news that matters to you.

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