After the Hit: What Happens in a Post-Concussion Assessment

So you’ve had a head knock and you’re worried it might be a concussion. What now? Many people aren’t sure whether what they’re feeling is “just a knock” or something that needs proper attention, and that uncertainty is exactly why a professional assessment is so valuable.

A concussion diagnosis can only be made by a qualified health professional. At the Melbourne Sports Concussion Clinic, we don’t rely on a single test. Instead, we combine several established assessment tools, because together they give us far greater certainty about whether a concussion has occurred and how significant it is.

Timing matters: get assessed early

The ImPACT post-injury test is best administered within 72 hours of a suspected concussion for anyone aged 12 and over. From there, it can be repeated every seven to ten days to track how the brain is recovering, and continued until the athlete is cleared. Early assessment gives us the clearest picture and helps shape the safest recovery plan.

The four parts of your assessment

To establish an accurate diagnosis and grade the level of concussion, your consultation works through a combination of tests.

1. A detailed medical history

We start by talking through the event itself, how the injury happened, what signs and symptoms appeared at the time, and how you’ve felt in the hours and days since. This context is the foundation of an accurate diagnosis.

2. The ImPACT computerized post-concussion test

This 20–30 minute neurocognitive test measures memory, reaction time and processing speed. We compare your results against your own baseline if you have one — or against age- and sex-matched normative data if you don’t. Either way, the test gives us objective insight into how your brain is currently performing.

3. A modified SCAT6 evaluation

The SCAT6 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) is an internationally recognised, standardised tool used to further evaluate your symptoms, cognition and physical signs. It adds another layer of clinical evidence to the picture.

4. A VOMS assessment

The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) checks how well your eyes and balance system are working together — areas commonly disrupted by concussion. Problems here often explain symptoms like dizziness, visual strain or feeling “off” when moving.

Why four tests rather than one? Because each assessment, when combined with the others, increases the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis. The result is a far more reliable answer to the question that brought you in: “is this a concussion, and how bad is it?”

When can an athlete return to sport?

A safe return is never rushed or guessed. An athlete can return to their sport only when all three of the following are true:

• All symptoms - both physical and cognitive - have resolved

• Testing shows cognitive function has returned to normal

• A concussion-trained health professional at MSCC, or in consultation with your GP, provides written clearance

Already had a baseline test?

If you or your child completed an ImPACT baseline test and have since had a head injury, that’s exactly the scenario baseline testing was designed for. Call our centre to schedule a post-injury test with one of our concussion physiotherapists or doctors, and we’ll compare your results directly against your healthy benchmark.

Not sure if it’s a concussion? Let’s find out properly. Book a post-concussion assessment with The Melbourne Sports Concussion Clinic on 1300 361 053.