Concerns and Issues Faced by Families of Concussed Youth Athletes

Concerns and Issues Faced by Families of Concussed Youth Athletes

Katherine Snedaker, MSW

SportsCAPP.comPinkConcussions.comTeamConcussion.org

February 2013

www.SportsCAPP.com 2013

Are all parents concerned about

concussions in youth sports?

Section One


NoConcerns are often at extremes Parents are very concerned v. not at allOnly parents, who really “get it,” have had a concussed child Concern also varies by sport Concern varies by geography


Attitudes are changingStarting to be aware of the risks and possibility of injuryAware of risk “in general,” but not as risk to their own childDenial that “their child” will get a concussionMost often concerned about purchasing best/safest equipment Generally want data on the risks compared to other sports


Is Concussion Education a no brainer? Sports organization hesitate to “require” parental educationWhen voluntary, few parents attend When mandatory, parents make timeParents support mandatory coaches/athlete trainingParents concerned with long term effects of TBI have already

experienced concussion


Missing pieces of the puzzleA mixed reaction when baseline testing offeredSome view baseline testing as in someway preventative Parents unaware of what a concussion really isParents do not understand spectrum of return to school and

RTP System is missing the person to manage how child is doing

and report to parents – MD, AT, School Guidance Counselor?


Many barriers to treatmentVERY FEW Parents understand the current and correct

management of concussionsAccess to trained MDs is limited in many parts of the countryExperts who exist have long waiting lists Experts accept patients based cause of injury or age of child


How does having a concussed child change your life?

Section Two


The call“Mrs. Snedaker, this is your son’s coach and I am calling to tell you that James took a pretty hard hit to the head today in practice.”

“This is the school nurse…”

“Mom, I hit my head…”


When a child is concussed…Sudden medical crisesFamily routine changesMiss days of schoolCanceled vacations/social events Parents need to “babysit” childParents’ ability to earn wagesLess attention on siblings


Why are concussions different? Invisible Injury Medical advice/terms vary between doctors, ER & TBI websites Management of concussion is inconsistent Parents are lost in how best to care for their child Perception of “faking injury” is real issue Parent needs to manage child’s absence and return to school

A concussion is the opposite of Strep Throat


With a concussion…Length of crises unknown at start – days, weeks or moreLack of support by school, community and team parentsStress between parents if care plan is not mutually agreed

uponCoping 24/7 with a cranky, hurting child with no screensChild cut off from their social life/friends/sport Mental health neglected in concussion managementDiagnosis often challenged by friends and school

www.SportsCAPP.com 2013Photos from Facing Concussion Project


Concussions

Breast cancer

Sandy gets house

Divorce

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Casseroles delivered to my house

Casseroles


How can parents’ needs be

addressed? Section Three


The playing fieldBad News

Lacking Medical Training Lacking Education Lacking Research Lacking ATCs for schools

and youth sports

Good News

Training exists online + free

Educational materials exist Smart Phone Apps exist Books, pamphlets Movies, Videos



RecommendationsBased on my experience and sharing with my

peers across the country


Nurture “Flow of Information”

Concussion management training for doctorsCDC concussion education for all sport

parents/athletesCDC concussion training for all youth

coaches Teach parents how to support families with

concussed athletes – takes a village


Require Accountability1st step = Removing injured athlete from play = coachCoaches required to train in all youth sportsSports org and schools required to provide yearly injury

stats


Fund the futureExperiment with different RTschool and RTP

PlansEncourage new models using counseling (MSW,

ATCs, Guidance counselors, etc)Encourage mental health support for familiesResearch for more valid statistics + better

diagnostic toolsFund more ATCs training and involvement on

the fields of youth sports

Documents

Concerns and Issues Faced by Families of Concussed Youth Athletes