The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Second Edition and its Relationship with Attention and Verbal Learning in a Pediatric Population

Concussions affect over 3.8 million Americans annually, and youths comprise the majority of those affected. “Return to play” (RTP) and “return to think” (RTT) decisions following concussions are based on the assessment of several factors including symptom resolution and neuropsychological functioning. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Second Edition (SCAT-2) was developed as a sideline assessment tool to aid in these decisions. Clinicians may infer neuropsychological status from results of the tool, but no studies have directly examined validity of this relationship. Fifty-seven concussed participants between the ages of 10 and 19 were assessed using the SCAT-2 as well as with a memory task (California Verbal Learning Test [CVLT]) and a computerized measure of attention (Conners’ Continuous Performance Test II [CPT-II]). Performance on the Standardized Assessment of Concussion [SAC] scale, a component of the SCAT-2, was associated with verbal learning and various measures of inattention. Implications of these findings for concussion assessment and future research are discussed.