NFHS Technology & Tools 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standardized sideline assessment tool, available as a paper form and digital app, is widely recommended by sports medicine organizations for evaluating suspected concussions on the field?
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
- Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) (Correct answer)
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire
Correct answer: Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)
The SCAT (currently SCAT6) is the internationally endorsed sideline tool combining symptom evaluation, cognitive testing, and balance assessment.
Question 2: Video replay technology is increasingly used in concussion management programs. What is its PRIMARY application in this context?
- Replacing sideline medical assessment
- Reviewing footage of the mechanism of injury to inform clinical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Providing entertainment for injured players on the sideline
- Determining whether a penalty should be called
Correct answer: Reviewing footage of the mechanism of injury to inform clinical evaluation
Video review helps medical staff understand the type, direction, and magnitude of an impact, supporting more informed clinical evaluation.
Question 3: When a coach uses a concussion recognition mobile app to screen an athlete, the result should be treated as:
- A definitive concussion diagnosis
- A screening indicator that warrants medical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Clearance to return to play if the score is normal
- A substitute for neurocognitive baseline testing
Correct answer: A screening indicator that warrants medical evaluation
Screening apps identify athletes who may have a concussion and need professional evaluation; they do not diagnose or clear athletes.
Question 4: The King-Devick (K-D) test used in sports concussion screening primarily evaluates which function?
- Balance and postural stability
- Rapid number naming and eye movement (Correct answer)
- Grip strength and reaction time
- Verbal memory recall
Correct answer: Rapid number naming and eye movement
The King-Devick test assesses rapid number naming under saccadic eye movement, which is sensitive to concussion-related visual-oculomotor dysfunction.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key feature of a properly designed electronic concussion reporting system used in high school athletics?
- Automatic medical clearance after 48 hours
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant storage of athlete health records (Correct answer)
- Public posting of injury data for parental review
- Real-time scoring of helmets during contact sports
Correct answer: Secure, HIPAA-compliant storage of athlete health records
Electronic health records containing concussion data must be stored securely and in compliance with HIPAA to protect student athlete privacy.
Question 6: Postural stability testing tools like the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) assess which concussion-related deficit?
- Visual acuity loss
- Vestibular and proprioceptive dysfunction causing balance impairment (Correct answer)
- Short-term memory loss
- Auditory processing speed
Correct answer: Vestibular and proprioceptive dysfunction causing balance impairment
BESS detects balance disruptions caused by concussion-related vestibular and proprioceptive system impairment.
Question 7: An athletic director purchases new head impact sensor patches for all contact sport athletes. Before relying on the data, what step is MOST critical?
- Publicizing the sensor brand on the school website
- Training staff on the sensor's threshold values, limitations, and proper response protocols (Correct answer)
- Sending sensor data directly to parents after each game
- Using sensor data to replace neurocognitive baseline testing
Correct answer: Training staff on the sensor's threshold values, limitations, and proper response protocols
Staff must understand what the alert thresholds mean and how to respond appropriately, including recognizing that a triggered alert is not a diagnosis.
NFHS Technology & Tools 3
Which standardized sideline assessment tool, available as a paper form and digital app, is widely recommended by sports medicine organizations for evaluating suspected concussions on the field?