Pediatric ImPACT® Baseline Concussion Testing

What Is the ImPACT Test?

Pioneered by experts who began the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, ImPACT® (immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing) is a computer-based test.

Used across the country, ImPACT is the most effective tool for:

• Measuring a child's neurocognitive state before a concussion occurs to gather baseline data.
• Helping to successfully diagnose and manage concussions.

Baseline data can help the care team diagnose, manage, and treat a concussion because we can compare tests and chart progress.

ImPACT received FDA approval in August 2016.

What Is the Pediatric ImPACT Test?

In place of the adult test for those ages 10 and up, the Pediatric ImPACT test is for children ages 5 to 9.

Children are different from adults — physically, mentally, and cognitively. The children's version of ImPACT, also FDA-approved in August 2016, is mindful of these developmental differences. In fact, 89% of users rate the subtests as fun and easy to understand.

We've adapted the adult version of this thorough exam to be more effective for kids in the following ways:

• Children take the test on a tablet, compared to a computer, to allow for greater engagement.
• Questions are at the child's developmental level and use simple terms. For instance, we use "tummy ache" instead of nausea and “tired" rather than fatigue.
• The child is made to feel at ease. Even something as simple as having a proper chair for them can help. Some kids get nervous sitting on the exam table and associate it with having to get a shot.
• The interviewer follows up on discrepancies between what the child reports and what the parent reports. Kids may tend to over-report some issues that parents might deny, such as trouble sleeping and nausea. And parents tend to over-report some issues that kids deny, such as moodiness and cognitive issues.
• The test stimuli in the Pediatric ImPACT are more suited for their age group. For instance, the part that tests processing speed or reaction times becomes a “stop and go" traffic light game. And to measure visual memory, we use a matching game with animals and food.

Because a child's brain is still developing, it may be more prone to injury and take more time to recover. The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program can diagnose your child's suspected concussion and design a custom active treatment plan for them.

What to Expect During Your Child's ImPACT Test

To take part in baseline testing:

• Enroll your child for the ImPACT test.
• Complete the pre-testing form (PDF).
• Bring the child to your chosen testing spot during their scheduled time.
• Check-in once you arrive.

During the testing session, one parent or guardian must be in the room with the child and UPMC test administrator. It's often in a computer lab-type setting.

The test presents as an educational video game on a tablet and takes about 20 minutes to complete. Even though it looks like a game, it collects the same data on reaction time, verbal/visual memory, and processing as the adult test.

After testing, parents will get a code to give care teams to access to their child's baseline ImPACT data.

Should your child sustain a concussion after taking the baseline test, he or she should retake the test. This new test lets your child's care team compare data and learn how severe your child's concussion is.

Should you choose the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program for your child's ImPACT assessment and treatment, we will customize their care.

Learn more about ImPACT testing at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. 

Contact the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program

To learn more about concussion treatment or make an appointment with a UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program expert:

• Call 412-432-3681.
• Fill out an online form.

Learn More About Concussions

Pediatric Concussions