Concussions may affect academic performance, study claims

High school students concussed in the past 12 months could be 25 per cent more likely to be in poor academic standing than those with no concussions, a study has claimed.

Concussions are known to sometimes lead to lasting physical, cognitive and emotional changes but there is a lack of evidence about what impact the brain injury can have on a teen's academic performance.

That prompted a team of US researchers to investigate if there was an association between concussions and an adolescent's academic standing in school.

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University of Washington researchers analysed US data on 10,756 adolescents.

Of those analysed, 14.9 per cent reported they had at least one sports and activity related concussion in the past 12 months.

Most adolescents who reported no concussions were female (50.9 per cent).

While most teens who reported one or more than two concussions were male (53.1 per cent and 63.5 per cent respectively).

Overall, a large majority of adolescents (78.8 per cent) reported to be in good academic standing.

The researchers calculated that having at least one concussion in the past 12 months was associated with a 25 per cent higher risk of poor academic standing, and this association was stronger with a history of repeated concussions.

According to Brain Injury Australia, more than 3000 people are hospitalised every year after being concussed, just from playing sport.

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But triple that number won't seek medical attention, the organisation said.

The study suggested school authorities screened for concussions during sports matches.

Researchers also advocated for strict adherence to return-to-play guidelines.

"Experiencing multiple concussions could be particularly harmful on student outcomes," the study said.

"(A) history of concussion was significantly associated with poor academic standing."

A concussion is a temporary brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body which causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth.

The authors acknowledged their study, published today in the journal Injury Prevention, had some limitations.

Their work did not allow them to assess the change in academic standing before and after the reported concussions.

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