If you or someone you love experiences a head injury, getting the right tests early can make a big difference in recovery. Banner Health offers a range of concussion screenings and diagnostic tools to evaluate how the brain is functioning after an injury and to monitor healing over time.
Our specialists use evidence-based testing methods to assess balance, memory, reaction time and visual coordination. These same tools are also used at the professional and collegiate sports levels to help guide safe return-to-play and return-to-learn decisions.
The Banner Concussion Center and many Banner facilities offer several types of tests - from baseline testing, which measures your brain’s normal function, to advanced assessments that help determine the severity of a concussion.
You don’t have to wait until an injury happens to take action. Baseline concussion testing, available at our Phoenix location, records how your brain performs under normal, healthy conditions. This information provides a personalized reference point that can be compared to post-injury results if a concussion occurs in the future.
While baseline testing does not diagnose a concussion, it helps your doctor make more accurate treatment and clearance decisions if you do experience a head injury.
Recommendations:
Children ages 15 and under should complete baseline testing every year.
High school athletes should be tested every other year or whenever there’s a significant change in health or sports activity.
Neurocognitive testing evaluates how well your brain processes, stores, and recalls information after an injury. At Banner Health, we use Sway Medical’s mobile application and the ImPACT® (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) tool — two validated programs used by the NFL, NHL, MLB and NCAA.
These tests measure important brain functions, including:
Baseline neurocognitive testing is most valuable when completed before an injury occurs, so results can be compared if a concussion is later suspected.
Dizziness and loss of balance are common symptoms after a concussion. Our balance assessments measure how steady you are when standing and performing specific movements.
Depending on your location, testing may use either the Sway Medical app or a Bertec force plate, which records subtle shifts in body movement. The test provides objective data on your stability and helps therapists track progress during recovery.
Who performs this test:
Physical therapists, occupational therapists or certified athletic trainers conduct both baseline and post-injury balance testing.
Vision and eye-brain coordination are often affected by concussions. Our specialists perform visual performance baseline testing to assess how your eyes and brain work together.
This testing may include:
Changes in visual processing after a concussion can impact reading, driving, sports performance and daily activities, making this an important part of concussion care.
At Banner Health, our multidisciplinary concussion team includes neurologists, neuropsychologists, physical and occupational therapists and athletic trainers who work together to guide your recovery.
Whether you’re an athlete, student or adult recovering from a fall or accident, we create a personalized treatment plan to help you heal safely and return to your normal activities.
If you suspect a concussion or want to schedule baseline testing, contact your nearest Banner Health concussion or sports medicine clinic.
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