The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Concussion Management: A Systematic Review

Traumatic brain injury (or TBI) is a an injury gaining widespread notoriety due to its deadly reputation among professional athletes and military personnel. But according to the CDC, “most TBIs that occur each year are mild, commonly called concussions.” In the past decade, the rate of medical treatment required from sport and recreation-related injuries has doubled in those under age 18. Symptoms of a concussion included headaches, dizziness, amnesia, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, language issues, and confusion. With the increase in injuries, awareness for mTBI treatment has risen in response. The role SLP’s play and the assessments and interventions they provide may vary greatly depending on the setting, age group, and cause of injury, and current research on the specific roles of SLPs in this population is limited