It can be difficult to tell whether someone has experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because it is an invisible injury. Screening and assessment tools (e.g. forms, series of tests) have been developed to help identify whether someone has potentially experienced a TBI, including concussion.
Screening and Assessment: What’s the difference?
Though the words “screening” and “assessment” are sometimes used interchangeably, they have slightly different meanings.
Screening is a process for evaluating the possible presence of a problem or health condition. Screening typically:
- is quick to complete
- requires little or no training to administer, and
- results in a simple yes or no outcome.
The purpose of a screening is to determine whether a person needs to undergo further evaluation (i.e. assessment) by a specialist. TBI screening can be carried out on the sideline (as can be the case for sport-related concussion) or in an office setting.
Assessment is a more thorough evaluation process. It involves:
- collecting detailed information about the nature of the problem/health condition being experienced by the person
- determining a diagnosis and
- creating a specific treatment plan.
Compared to screening, assessments take longer to do because more information needs to be collected. They are typically carried out by trained healthcare professionals in an office setting. There are usually costs involved with formal assessments.
Examples of TBI Screening and Assessment Tools
Below is a list and brief description of some commonly used screening and assessment tools.
Disclaimer: It’s important to remember that a TBI, including concussion, is a clinical diagnosis. This means TBI/concussion can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. Screening tools are not a substitute for medical evaluation and are not to be used for the diagnosis of TBI.
Screening Tools
For Community Members
Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6™)
Created by the Concussion in Sport Group, the CRT6 is a brief screening tool that serves to help recognise a potential sport-related concussion and remove the athlete from activity. The tool can be used by anyone and on athletes from different sports, including para-athletes.
Access the tool here.
For Healthcare Professionals
Brain Injury Screening Tool (BIST-2)
The BIST is a brief assessment tool that helps healthcare professionals assess and manage suspected brain injury (including concussion) in people aged 8 years and older. Designed to be used when a person first presents to a primary or secondary healthcare setting, the BIST helps guide clinical decision-making by identifying whether individuals are at low, medium, or high risk of experiencing long-term difficulties following their traumatic brain injury and suggesting healthcare pathways.
It is recommended that the BIST is used in addition to clinical judgment and other assessments, such as the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS), King-Devick or the Romberg’s test. Asking additional clinical questions is also encouraged.
Access the tool here.
HELPS Brain Injury Screening Tool
The HELPS Brain Injury Screening Tool is a brief screening tool that can identify survivors who’ve experienced, or may be at risk for, a TBI (including concussion). A version of the tool has been created to help identify TBI resulting from domestic and family violence (DFV). This version helps to provide a way of talking about TBI in the context of DFV and can help survivors identify the source of some of their challenges.
Access the tool here.
Assessment Tools
The following assessment tools are for use by healthcare professionals or individuals who have been trained how to use them
Sideline Assessment Tools
Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6™)
Also developed by the Concussion in Sport Group, the SCAT6™ is a standardized tool for evaluating concussions. It is designed for use by healthcare professionals in the acute phase of injury (ideally within 72 hours (i.e. 3 days of injury) and up to 7 days) on people aged 13 and above. The SCAT6™ consists of several components, which includes a screening for more severe injuries, symptom evaluation, cognitive assessment, and a coordination and balance examination.
Access the tool here.
Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (Child SCAT™)
As above, but for use on children aged 8 – 12 years of age.
Access the tool here.
Office Assessment Tools
Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool 6 (SCOAT6™)
The SCOAT6™ is a newly developed clinical tool created by the Concussion in Sport Group for healthcare professionals specifically. It can be used to screen, evaluate, and guide the management of sport-related concussions in people aged 13 years and above. The SCOAT6™ covers the all the essential domains that make up comprehensive concussion care and is intended for use during the sub-acute phase of injury (typically 72 hours (3 days) to 1 month after the injury). For best results, the SCOAT6™ should be used in conjunction with the SCAT6™ completed within 72 hours of injury.
Access the tool here.
Child SCOAT6™
As above, but for use on children aged 8 – 12 years of age. Note the Child SCOAT6™ includes a section where information is collected from a parent/guardian.
Access the tool here.
Other Tools
Screening Tools- Free
Ohio State University TBI Identification Method (OSU-TBI-ID)
Brain Check Survey
Neuro-behavioural Symptom Inventory
Screening – Fee for use
Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire (BISQ)
Assessment Tools
Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE)
Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE-2)