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Dear Parents and Students,
River Ridge High School is utilizing an innovative program for evaluating and treating head injuries (e.g., concussion). In order to better manage concussions sustained by our students, River Ridge School District has partnered with Crossing Rivers Health to acquire a software tool called ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). Neurocognitive tests such as ImPACT are fast becoming the “gold standard” in recognizing and managing head injuries. Additional information about ImPACT can be found at www.impacttest.com.
River Ridge School District is requiring student-athletes to take the computerized test before the start of their freshman year and then again prior to their Junior year of High School. We have decided to offer this test to all incoming freshmen, not just athletes. The format of the test is similar to that of a video game and takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. The ImPACT test is akin to a pre-season physical of the brain. It tracks information such as memory, reaction time, and concentration, but it is not an IQ test. The ImPACT test is non-invasive and poses no risks to the student.
If your child suffers a head injury, and a concussion is suspected, your child will be referred to a health care organization for evaluation. Once the student is symptom-free your child will take the post-injury ImPACT test. The health care organization will maintain your child’s baseline and post-injury test data, if any, on a secure server maintained by ImPACT. Your child’s post-test data will only be available to his/her healthcare provider, except as described below. If your child suffers a head injury in sports activities, you will be contacted with additional details about how to proceed.
The child’s test data may be made available to the clinician evaluating your child. This clinician may choose to make the child’s test data available to other health care providers who are being consulted regarding the treatment of your child. Your child’s health and safety are at the forefront of the student athletic experience.
In the past when school was in session students would take the ImPACT test in May. Due to school not being in session we are asking students going into 9th and 11th grade to take this at home.
Instructions for taking ImPACT test at home:
- Your child will receive an email from ImPACT with a Testing Code to take the test.
- It will give you instructions and a link to click to take the test.
- Please click on Additional Demographics do not click skip. Enter your information.
- The student must complete this prior to the fall sports season starting. Please try and get it done in the next couple of weeks.
- Once the student has taken the test I will verify to make sure it is valid.
- Please have your student take this in a quiet setting.
If you do not have access to a computer or Internet please contact me at (608) 485-3903 and we can arrange a date for a make-up prior to the fall sports season. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Penny Grassel, LAT
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