High school athletes not reporting concussion symptoms: study

New Orleans – High school athletes may not report concussion symptoms out of fear of being sidelined, concludes a study presented Oct. 22 at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.

Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences surveyed 134 high school varsity athletes about their concussion history, symptom recognition, awareness of long-term health risks, and whether recent news reports on concussions had changed their attitudes.

Ten percent of athletes surveyed reported being diagnosed with a concussion. However, 32 percent said they had experienced concussion-like symptoms in the past two years but chose not to seek medical attention, according to an AAP press release. Of those, more than half cited concerns about not being allowed to play. Although 71 percent of survey participants indicated they currently knew more about concussions than when they started high school, for many, more awareness did not translate into an increased likelihood to report.