Abstract Details

Title Relationship between Rapid Number and Picture Naming Tests of a Concussion Assessment Battery

Topic Neuro Trauma, Critical Care, and Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) P2 - Poster Session 2 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-063

Objective

Examine the relationship between King-Devick (KD) and Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluating System (MULES) scores in an athletic population.

Background The KD test is a rapid number naming test of oculomotor functioning, however, it is limited to evaluating networks involved with horizontal saccadic eye movements and vergence. The MULES was developed to assess additional networks which may be a beneficial addition to concussion assessment, as it additionally requires object and color identification and therefore may identify further impairments to the visual networks following concussion.

Design/Methods Twenty-nine youth and collegiate ice hockey players (17.1±3.3 years, 27M/2F) completed both tests at baseline. The MULES consists of two cards, totaling 54 color pictures of foods, animals and objects; KD consists of 3 cards totaling 120 numbers in random order. Both tests were administered twice and the fastest time without errors was recorded as the “best” time. Descriptive statistics were used to describe test scores and a Pearson correlation examined the relationship between the tests.

Results There was a significant positive correlation (p=0.003, r=0.543) between the KD (47.8 + 9.4 seconds) and MULES (37.7 + 6.7 seconds) tests. The MULES had a greater mean change between trials (6.8±3.7 seconds) than KD (2.4±7.3 seconds), where 8/29 subjects performed slower on the second trial.

Conclusions

These data are the first to report on MULES test scores in an athletic-specific cohort. The significant moderate correlation suggests a relationship, but that the two may be providing somewhat unique information. This may be due to the MULES utilizing additional neurological resources of object and color recognition. These findings support the use of MULES in a clinical concussion testing battery, as it is also easy to administer and takes a short time to complete. Future studies should focus on MULES scores through concussion recovery.

Authors/Disclosures
Melissa S. DiFabio (University of Delaware) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Jessie Oldham (Boston Children's Hospital)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Thomas A. Buckley, PhD (University of Delaware)	The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from Highmark Bluecross Blue Prints. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from NIH/NINDS. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from StateSpace, Inc.

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