Academic accommodations following concussion (adapted from ref 49)
| Postconcussion symptom | Effect of school attendance | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Headache | Difficulty concentrating | Frequent breaks, quiet area, hydration |
| Fatigue | Decreased attention, concentration | Frequent breaks, shortened day, only certain classes |
| Photophobia/phonophobia | Worsening symptoms (headache) | Sunglasses, ear plugs/headphones, avoid noisy areas (cafeterias, assemblies, sport events, music class), limit computer work |
| Anxiety | Decreased attention/concentration, overexertion to avoid falling behind | Reassurance and support from teachers about accommodations, reduced workload |
| Difficulty concentrating | Limited focus on schoolwork | Shorter assignments, decreased workload, frequent breaks, having someone read out loud, more time to complete assignments/tests, quiet area to complete work |
| Difficulty remembering | Difficulty retaining new information, remembering instructions, accessing learned information | Written instructions, smaller amounts to learn, repetition |