Concerns and Issues Faced by Families of Concussed Youth Athletes Katherine Snedaker, MSW SportsCAPP.com PinkConcussions.com TeamConcussion.org February.

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 all

Only 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 injury

Aware of risk “in general,” but not as risk to their own child

Denial that “their child” will get a concussion

Most 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 education

When voluntary, few parents attend

When mandatory, parents make time

Parents support mandatory coaches/athlete training

Parents concerned with long term effects of TBI have already experienced concussion


Missing pieces of the puzzleA mixed reaction when baseline testing offered

Some view baseline testing as in someway preventative

Parents unaware of what a concussion really is

Parents 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 concussions

Access to trained MDs is limited in many parts of the country

Experts 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 crises

Family routine changes

Miss days of school

Canceled vacations/social events

Parents need to “babysit” child

Parents’ ability to earn wages

Less 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 more

Lack of support by school, community and team parents

Stress between parents if care plan is not mutually agreed upon

Coping 24/7 with a cranky, hurting child with no screens

Child cut off from their social life/friends/sport

Mental health neglected in concussion management

Diagnosis 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 field

Bad 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 doctors

CDC concussion education for all sport parents/athletes

CDC 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 = coach

Coaches required to train in all youth sports

Sports org and schools required to provide yearly injury stats


Fund the futureExperiment with different RTschool and RTP

Plans

Encourage new models using counseling (MSW, ATCs, Guidance counselors, etc)

Encourage mental health support for families

Research for more valid statistics + better diagnostic tools

Fund more ATCs training and involvement on the fields of youth sports

Concerns and Issues Faced by Families of Concussed Youth Athletes Katherine Snedaker, MSW SportsCAPP.com PinkConcussions.com TeamConcussion.org February.

Documents

child parents ability

time parents

parents md

inconsistent parents

preventative parents

extremes parents

team parents stress

age of child