NFHS Injury Recognition & Symptom Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A soccer player heads the ball and immediately reports feeling 'foggy' and has difficulty remembering the drill sequence. Which category of concussion symptom does this BEST represent?
- Physical symptom
- Cognitive symptom (Correct answer)
- Emotional symptom
- Sleep disturbance
Correct answer: Cognitive symptom
Feeling 'foggy' and difficulty remembering are cognitive symptoms, which include confusion, memory problems, and slowed thinking.
Question 2: After a collision in basketball, an athlete appears dazed and keeps asking 'What happened?' despite being told multiple times. This repeated questioning is a sign of:
- Post-traumatic amnesia
- Retrograde amnesia
- Anterograde amnesia (Correct answer)
- Declarative memory loss
Correct answer: Anterograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories after the injury, causing the athlete to repeatedly ask the same questions.
Question 3: Which of the following is considered a RED FLAG symptom requiring immediate emergency medical care after a suspected concussion?
- Mild headache
- Feeling slowed down
- One pupil larger than the other (Correct answer)
- Sensitivity to light
Correct answer: One pupil larger than the other
Unequal pupil size (anisocoria) is a red flag indicating possible intracranial bleeding or pressure requiring emergency evaluation.
Question 4: A wrestler is thrown to the mat and briefly loses consciousness for about 5 seconds. Upon regaining consciousness, the athlete says they feel fine. What should happen next?
- Allow the athlete to continue if they feel fine
- Monitor for 10 minutes then allow return to play
- Remove the athlete and initiate concussion protocol (Correct answer)
- Have the athlete sit out only for the current match
Correct answer: Remove the athlete and initiate concussion protocol
Any loss of consciousness, regardless of duration, requires immediate removal from play and full concussion protocol evaluation.
Question 5: Which physical symptom should a coach or athletic trainer specifically look for in the hours following a suspected concussion that may indicate worsening condition?
- Mild fatigue
- Increasing headache intensity (Correct answer)
- Slight appetite change
- Minor mood shift
Correct answer: Increasing headache intensity
A headache that worsens over time is a warning sign of potential intracranial pressure buildup and requires emergency evaluation.
Question 6: An athlete reports neck pain following a head collision during a football game. How does this affect the concussion assessment process?
- Neck pain is unrelated and can be assessed separately
- Neck pain must be evaluated to rule out cervical spine injury before moving the athlete (Correct answer)
- Neck pain confirms a concussion diagnosis
- Neck pain indicates the athlete can return to play sooner
Correct answer: Neck pain must be evaluated to rule out cervical spine injury before moving the athlete
Neck pain after a head impact raises concern for cervical spine injury, which must be ruled out before moving the athlete to prevent further injury.
Question 7: During a volleyball game, a player is struck by a ball to the side of the head and complains of ringing in one ear. This symptom is called:
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus (Correct answer)
- Nystagmus
- Diplopia
Correct answer: Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing or buzzing in the ears, which is a recognized physical symptom of concussion.
NFHS Injury Recognition & Symptom Evaluation 2
A soccer player heads the ball and immediately reports feeling 'foggy' and has difficulty remembering the drill sequence.
Which category of concussion symptom does this BEST represent?