A-07 TOMM Trial 1 Provides Sensitivity Over Rey-15 And Reliable Digit Span In Youth Football Players.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Performance validity testing (PVT) provides information about response bias in neuropsychological testing. Adult football players have increased risk of invalid performance on baseline testing, perhaps due to wanting to resume play following concussion. Youth athletes have shown similar behavior, yet youth football players remain under-studied. This study examined which PVTs have the best utility for youth athletes. Methods Three univariate analyses of covariance compared mean baseline test performance on three PVT’s (Rey-15 item test combined, TOMM Trial 1, and Reliable Digit Span) in a youth athlete baseline evaluation sample (n=143, 79.9% male) ages 8-18 (mean=11.94) who played football (n=79) to those who played other sports (n=64). Gender was included as a covariate. Results Mean scores on TOMM trial 1 for youth football players were significantly lower than athletes who did not play football (M=45.96, 47.81, respectively, p=.033). There were no group differences on the RDS or Rey-15 item tests (p=.14, .88, respectively). Further, five football players failed TOMM trial 1, compared to one non-football player. Conclusions These results may indicate that the TOMM is more sensitive to validity performance in youth football players, compared to RDS and Rey-15. Youth may benefit from increased education on the consequences of premature return to play and importance of optimal performance on baseline testing. Continued research on PVTs for youth may help neuropsychologists make more informed decisions on PVT selection.