FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2022
Lincoln, Neb. - COVID-19 and concussions seem like an unlikely pair, so why are these two conditions mentioned together? And what do they have to do with education?
New studies show that COVID-19 can have neurological effects similar to those of concussions. While the exact cause is still being studied, the prevailing train of thought is that COVID-19 stresses the central nervous system[1] leading to symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog that are very similar to those related to concussions. [2]
Learning is difficult when a person’s brain isn’t feeling right, making teaching, an already challenging job for teachers, all the more difficult. Without accommodations, it can be difficult for students affected by COVID-19 or concussion symptoms to return to their normal learning activities. Thankfully, there is a tool available to aid teachers in implementing a plan to help students return to the classroom after COVID-19 or a concussion.
Introduced last in 2020, the Teacher Acute Concussion Tool has now expanded to become the Teacher Acute COVID/Concussion Tool (TACT). Below is an excerpt from Get Schooled on Concussions and COVID’s website describing the tool.
“TACT is a customized concussion and COVID-19 management email tool based on each teacher’s unique responses to an online questionnaire (taking less than five minutes) about their teaching style and is immediately delivered to the teacher’s inbox outlining recommendations for environmental and academic content adjustments for the classroom. No personal student information is shared. The questionnaire only seeks information about the teacher’s personal teaching style for that class. TACT delivers four weeks of COVID-19 academic supports, via teacher email – in “real-time”—just when students experiencing prolonged COVID effects are ready to re-enter the classroom.”
The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska has paid for a statewide subscription that schools across the state can use. To get access to this tool and watch the free 20-minute training video, visit: https://biane.org/concussion/concussions-school/.
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If you would like more information on the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska or Get Schooled on Concussions and COVID, contact Peggy Reisher, MSW, Executive Director, at peggy@biane.org or 402-890-0606.
[1]D’Arcy et. al. “Mitigating Long-Term COVID-19 Consequences on Brain Health.” Front. Neurol., 27 September 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.630986
[2] Loewen, Dr. Jaycie, reviewed by: Dr. Alina Fong. “Encephalitis and Cytokines: When Viruses Like COVID-19 Have Long-Term Effects on the Brain.” CognitiveFX. Last updated: 7 December 2021. https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/viral-encephalitis-long-term-effects-on-the-brain
