Because many athletes may not recognize all of the concussions they may have suffered in the past, and because the taking of a detailed concussion history may pre-identify athletes who, because they have suffered multiple concussions over time or repeated concussons with progressively less impact force, fit into the "complex" category so as to require additional management, a pre-participation evaluation (PPE) which includes the taking of a detailed concussion history is a valuable tool for clinicians and provides an opportunity to educate athletes about the significance of concussion injuries.
The eleventh right of parents under the Parent's Concussion Bill of Rights is therefore the right to expect that their child's sports progam will have athletes undergo a PPE before each season.
The PPE should includes the taking of a structured concussion history, including specific questions about previous symptoms of concussion (not just the perceived number of concussions) and previous head, face or neck injuries, as well as questions about symptoms currently being experienced, if any.
If a school can't afford to foot the bill for such exams, parents should try to get them on their own or, better yet, alternative ways should be explored to provide such exams to all athletes, either through parent fundraising or by asking local medical groups to donate the exams as a community service.
