Concussions May Impact Learning if Return to Classroom is Too Soon
Returning to the classroom too soon after a concussion can be as dangerous as returning to the field too soon.
11/24/2014 9:09 AM
Hundreds of thousands of students sustain concussions every year as a result of a fall, a vehicle accident or a sports injury. While recovery for most concussion sufferers is swift, it is important to know that the recovery is more than just physical.
Dr. Jessica Higgs, Bradley University Director of Health Services, says most people recognize that one shouldn’t return to physical activity until they are completely healed from a concussion, but not as many know that returning to cognitive activity too soon can also be problematic.
“In some cases a concussion can affect a student’s ability to learn. If a student engages in concentration heavy activities before they’re healed, it can reignite concussion symptoms or slow down healing process.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns a concussion can affect multiple aspects of a student’s ability to participate, learn, and perform well in school. In turn, the experience of learning and engaging in academic activities that require concentration can actually cause a student’s concussion symptoms to reappear or worsen.
There are guidelines in place for returning to play after a concussion and recently, the “Return to Learn” guidelines were developed. These guidelines outline protocol for students returning to the classroom after a concussion. The NCAA has adopted both guidelines and Bradley is also incorporating them into the University’s concussion protocol.
After being evaluated by a medical professional, Bradley’s health Services team will determine a student’s readiness to return to the classroom based on their symptoms. Dr. Higgs says “We may require a graduated scale for cognitive activity. For example, they may be released to attend one 50 minute class per day. Then they’ll be re-evaluated and if they aren’t showing any negative symptoms we will up that to two 50 minute classes in one day as long as they aren’t back to back. And so on until they are healed.”
Dr. Steve Tippett is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science and also the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative at Bradley. He says the “Return to Learn” protocol will require more education especially for the educators so they understand how cognitive activity can impact recovery.
“Faculty must be made aware that too much too soon in the classroom is just as detrimental to recovery as a premature return to competition. We need the faculty to be informed participants in the healing process and remain vigilant in assessing the cognitive decline of any student recovering from concussive injury.”
This is a link to the NCAA’s “Return to Learn” guidelines: http://www.ncaa.org/health-