Children and Adolescents

It is critical to realise the children and adolescents take longer to recover after a concussion than adults due to the fact that their brain is still undergoing development and they are unusually susceptible to trauma.
The diagnosis, monitoring and assessment following concussion in children and adolescents must be modified accordingly.
It is also important to include those people around injured younger person who may be able to assist in the assessment.
For children 5 to 12 years of age, the ChildSCAT3 test has been formulated to take into account the differences in development compared to older adolescents and adults
It includes reporting of symptoms by both the injured child and those around.

• Take longer to recover after a concussive injury than adults
• More conservative approach for those <18
• Diagnosis of concussion, monitoring concussive symptoms, physical and cognitive assessment must be modified in children because of physical, cognitive and language development
• Important to include the parent/teacher/coach/guardian in assessing the child with concussion
• ChildSCAT3 developed for 5-12 year olds (older use SCAT3)
• ChildSCAT3 includes:
  • child-report symptom scale
  • parent-report symptom scale