Faculty Publications

In Situ Use Of The King-Devick Eye Tracking Test And Changes Seen With Sport-Related Concussion: Saccadic And Blinks Counts

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Australian football, children, Concussion, eye movements, head impact, oculomotor, saccades, youth

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Physician and Sportsmedicine

Volume

47

Issue

1

First Page

78

Last Page

84

Abstract

Objectives: Sport-related concussion (SRC) can result in impaired oculomotor function. Oculomotor performance, measured utilizing the King-Devick/Eye Tracking test (K-D/ET), is reported to be able to identify sub-optimal brain function. The objectives of the study were to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the K-D/ET in identifying SRC occurring from game participation and to perform a comparative analysis on saccade and blink counts for each K-D card individually and total counts between baseline and post-concussion. Methods: Nineteen male Australian Football players were assessed on the K-D/ET test. Those suspected of having SRC secondary to a head impact were also tested. Results: Participants recorded a slower time on the third (20.2 ± 4.6 s) screen when compared with the first (p = 0.0424) and second (p = 0.0150) screens. The number of blinks was higher on the third (2.9 ± 2.9) when compared with the second (p = 0.0057) screen. There was decrease of the K-D/ET total times between pre- and post-game (p = 0.1769). Participants who sustained a head impact recorded slower mean total K-D time (p = 0.7322), fewer mean total saccades (p = 0.0112), and more mean blinks (p = 0.8678) compared with their baseline scores. The assessment of blinks was the most sensitive measure for potential SRC (0.67). The K-D/ET duration was the most specific measure for potential SRC (0.88). An increase in the number of blinks had a fair specificity of 0.69. Conclusion: The rapid number-naming component of the K-D test is an assessment tool which quantifies impairment to oculomotor function and has been validated as a diagnostic tool for SRC. The clinical usefulness of the eye tracking component of the K-D/ET test is that it may be an effective method to assess concussions with the eye tracking component serving as a measure of progression and return to play. However, more research is required at the adult and youth level.

Department

Department of Health, Recreation, and Community Services

Original Publication Date

1-2-2019

DOI of published version

10.1080/00913847.2018.1525261

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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