Concussion Case Study
Clarity Chair Partnered With Life Research University
Background: Life University Institutional Review Board conducted non-invasive testing on human subjects with documented concussion-induced TBI students, staff and volunteer civilians. The purpose of the study was to document the care of 4 adults with self-perceived cognitive deficits remaining 6 months post concussions receiving sensory integration care using the Clarity Chair.
Post-concussion symptoms include but not limited to:
headache, dizziness, depression, anxiety, impaired memory, irritability, impaired concentration, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing impairment, blurred vision, diplopia, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, fatigue, sleep disturbances, impaired attention, slow reaction time and slow speed of information processing.
Measuring Outcomes
Participants under went assessments to measure outcomes 1week prior, 1 week post and 1 month post treatment. Assessment testing included:
- Balance Testing: Bertec Balance Platform
- Neurocognitive Testing: CanTab Research Suite-CanTab Research Suite provides the most validated, sensitive and reliable measurement of brain function across all cognitive domains and is used by over 800 of the top global research institutions. This study will utilize Cantab’s traumatic brain injury test battery that assesses the patient’s cognitive domains of attention, reaction time, executive function, and memory.For each of the CanTab tests the participant will be placed in a quiet room, sitting in a desk with a touch screen tablet and response pad placed in front of them. The researcher will explain each task to the participant and then allow them the time to complete the task without interruption.
RESULTS
Participant: 69 Year-Old-Man
Went from 10 symptoms to 2
The participant started the study with 10+ concussion symptoms and at his 1 month post assessment, his concussion symptoms were down to only 2, hearing impairment and sensitivity to noise.
Vision: The participant had improvement in his vision sight going from marker 15 (towards the center) further out to marker 20-25 at one week and maintained vision markers one month post except in the two lower regions.
Ear Dominance: The participant showed a change from left ear dominance to right ear dominance at 1 month post. However, the intensity levels increased for both ears. Is that normal?
Stability: The participant showed some variance in stability. The main outcome of interest was his degree of maximum instability, which decreased (improved). The 1 month post was the only eyes closed test on a foam surface that the participant was able to complete.
The participant was tested on 4 different cognitive tests and overall showed a latency decrease and accuracy increase, indicating an improvement.
- The participant’s was 45-50 dB in the right ear and 35-40 dB in left ear before the therapy and 40-50 dB in the right ear and 55 dB in the left ear one month post.
- The participant also stated he felt better and could bend down and pick up items without falling over this last month.
Additional Patients Results
Patient 1: Decrease in symptoms from 11 to 2
Patient 2: Decrease in symptoms from 14 to 5
Patient 3: Decrease in symptoms from 16 to 6
Patient 4: Decrease in symptoms from 13 to 8
Improvements have been seen clinically in those diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Sadness/Feeling Down, Focus and Concentration and Left Ear Dominance.
