Impact of Factors that Affect Reading Skill Level on King-Devick Baseline Performance Time.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The King-Devick (K-D) test is a common tool for sideline concussion screening in athletes.
• The K-D test relies on reading numbers, but its performance is not well understood in relation to reading skill variations.
• Factors influencing reading ability may impact baseline K-D test performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if learning disorders (LD) or primary home language other than English (PHLOTE) affect baseline King-Devick test performance in student-athletes.
• To identify differences in K-D test times associated with LD and PHLOTE, controlling for other relevant factors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2311 student-athletes in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium.
• Multivariate regression was used to assess the association between LD, PHLOTE, and K-D test performance.
• Covariates included gender, sport type, attentional issues, concussion history, and administration modality.

Main Results:

• The average K-D test time was 40.4 seconds.
• Athletes with LD showed significantly slower K-D times (3.3 seconds slower, p < 0.001).
• Athletes with PHLOTE also demonstrated slower K-D times (2.6 seconds slower, p < 0.001), after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Baseline King-Devick test performance is influenced by factors related to reading skill, such as learning disorders and primary home language.
• Caution is advised when using normative K-D test data for athletes with these characteristics.
• Further research is needed to understand how reading-related factors affect the K-D test's sensitivity in concussion detection.