Concussion Management Considerations for Athletes Who Are Deaf or Hard-Of-Hearing: Navigating Challenges and Enhancing Safety
This presentation is a replay from NATA 2024 in New Orleans, providing another opportunity to access its valuable content and insights.
Abstract:
The consensus statement on concussion in sports highlights the need for tailored approaches in special populations, including athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH). Although concussion rates are comparable to that of athletes who are hearing, baseline neurocognitive, behavioral, and physical performance data of athletes who are D/HoH are limited. Differences in baseline performance of athletes who are D/HoH compared to athletes who are hearing may be due to potential anatomical, sensory, and processing factors. It is crucial for clinicians to understand these potential differences in baseline performance and how baseline outcomes will influence concussion recognition, diagnosis, and return-to-play decisions.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe Deaf culture and its significance to Deaf sport.
- Recognize the occurrence of concussions in athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Examine the concussion knowledge and attitudes among athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Describe the anatomical, sensory, and processing variability of athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their implication on concussion management.
Level:
Advanced
Domain(s):
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords: Disability; Baseline; mTBIa
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
Thomas McKnight, MS, LAT, ATC, CES
Thomas McKnight, MS, LAT, ATC, CES is an Associate Athletic Trainer at Gallaudet University, where he works with the football, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, baseball, and track & field teams. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Biology (with University honors) from Gallaudet in 2010 and a Master of Science in Athletic Training from Shenandoah University in 2013. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance at Concordia University Chicago.
With more than a decade of experience, McKnight has served as an athletic trainer for the USA Men’s Basketball Team at international competitions including the Deaflympic Games and World Championships in Brazil, Bulgaria, and Poland. He also serves on the U.S. Deaf Sports Federation Medical Commission.
In addition to his clinical work, McKnight has taught at Gallaudet since 2014 as an adjunct professor in biology and physical education, offering courses such as Human Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, and Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries. He is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the District of Columbia Athletic Trainers’ Association (DCATA). He previously served on the board of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL).
Originally from Shirley, Massachusetts, McKnight graduated from The Learning Center for the Deaf (now Marie Philip School) in 2006. He is also an avid disc golfer and helped design Gallaudet’s campus disc golf course in 2023, where he now advises the student disc golf club. He currently resides in Riverdale, Maryland.
Matthew Brancaleone, PhD, PT, DPT, AT
Dr. Matt Brancaleone is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University and the long-time Medical Coordinator for the OSU Marching Band. A two-time graduate of Central Michigan University (BS in Athletic Training, DPT in Physical Therapy), he went on to complete a Sports Physical Therapy Residency and earn his PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Ohio State.
His clinical and research interests include musculoskeletal rehabilitation, health and wellness of athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and the physical demands of marching artists. With more than a decade of experience, Dr. Brancaleone brings both academic expertise and practical insight to his teaching.
