College Student Experiences of Recovery from Prolonged Concussion Symptoms: Not Just a Checked Box

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

3:35 PM – 3:51 PM

Presenting Author(s)

Amy M. Kemp, MA, CCC-SLP

PhD Student
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia, United States

Slides Slides and Audio

Non-presenting Author(s)

Katy H. O'Brien, PhD CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia, United States
TRACEY D. Wallace, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist/Clinical Research Scientist
Shepherd Center
Alpharetta, Georgia, United States

Twenty-four college students with a history of concussion in college were interviewed on their perception of "recovery" from concussion. Interviews were analyzed using phenomenological qualitative methodology. Two main themes were found: What Recovery Looks Like and Gaining Perspective: Learning to Cope. The process of recovery is framed by two subthemes: Ongoing Recovery, defined as continued steps in addressing symptoms, and Chronic Management, which describes a shift in perspective about concussion symptoms. In the second theme, students described developing strategies as well as using resources and support as major components of their recovery. Our two main themes find that students with complicated recovery from concussion describe the use of personal skills and coping mechanisms rather than symptom resolution as central to the experience of recovery. Perceptions of recovery may be better captured in effort, capacity, or resilience measures.

Learning Objectives:

describe key aspects of recovery from concussion as described by college students.
summarize the role of support and strategies used in recovery from concussion by college-aged students.
identify how capacity, effort, and/or resilence could be used as additional measures of recovery from concussion.