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Brief Report: The Effect of Environmental Distractions on Preseason SCAT6 Cognitive Performance
Alyssa Lickfeld1,2, Joseph R Tousignant1, Scott Dinse1
1UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; and.
Summary
Environmental distractions impact cognitive testing in athletes. Preseason Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6) evaluations should occur in quiet settings to ensure accurate results for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Athletic Training
Background:
- The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6) is crucial for evaluating concussions in athletes.
- Environmental factors during baseline testing may influence cognitive performance.
- Understanding these influences is key to accurate concussion assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how environmental distractions affect the cognitive subcomponents of the SCAT6.
- To determine if noise and attention levels impact SCAT6 performance in young athletes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 90 male youth ice hockey players (ages 13-18).
- Data collected during preseason physical examinations in an athletic training room.
- Independent variables included noise, distractions, and observed participant attention; outcome measures were SCAT6 cognitive scores.
Main Results:
- Louder testing environments were associated with longer completion times for the months backward task (P=0.040).
- Lower observed participant attention correlated with lower total cognitive scores (P=0.017) and concentration scores (P=0.005).
Conclusions:
- Preseason SCAT6 cognitive testing is best performed in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
- Minimizing environmental distractions can improve the reliability of baseline concussion assessments.
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