The University of Calgary researchers have found reassuring information for parents concerned about their child’s recovery from a concussion. They analyzed data from children’s hospitals in the US and Canada and concluded that pediatric concussions do not seem to impact IQ or intelligence. This finding provides relief to parents worried about their child’s well-being after a concussion.
Concussion injury requires immediate medical attention
It is important to note that although it is necessary to attend to concussions immediately, most children tend to achieve full recovery. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury resulting from head impact, causing the brain to move abruptly within the skull. Symptoms range from headaches to seizures and altered habits.
In a comparative study, researchers examined 566 children who had suffered concussions and 300 other adolescents with orthopedic injuries. The participants, aged 8-16, were recruited from two separate studies conducted in Canada. Data was collected from various children’s hospitals’ emergency rooms, and Canadian parents completed IQ tests three months after the injuries occurred.
Mixed opinion on concussion’s effects on IQ
Senior study author and UCalgary’s Department of Psychology professor Keith Yeates said that there has been concern regarding the effects of concussion on young kids with dilemma being on whether the injury affects intellectual functioning. Yeates explained that findings on the issue have been eliciting mixed opinions with different perspectives among the medical community. It is important to note that having big sample sizes for confirming a lack of effect is challenging, especially in cases where there is no observed difference in IQ after a concussion. Demonstrating the absence of a disparity is more difficult than establishing its existence.
Researchers were able to test patients from diverse demographics and clinical characteristics by merging Canadian and U.S. cohorts, resulting in a substantial sample size.
The study examined various factors including socioeconomic status, patient sex, injury severity, concussion history, and loss of consciousness during injury. According to Dr. Yeates, none of these factors had an impact. Overall, there was no link found between concussion and lower IQ.
