B - 29 Exploring Sex Differences in Concussion Symptom Reporting between Parents and Children

Abstract Objective Concussion evaluation often entails patient completion of symptom checklists and questionnaires. Prior research indicates children often report higher concussion-related symptoms than parents (Johnson et al., 2020; Liu & Hicks, 2020). Furthermore, research indicates sex differences in reported symptoms among children and adolescents. (Preiss-Farzanegan et al., 2009; Frommer et al., 2011). This study aimed to explore these differences and the relationship between self-reported and parent-reported concussion symptoms by sex. Methods Children who sustained a concussion were examined in an acute concussion clinic for diagnosis and treatment of injury. In addition to the physical examination, parents were given the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory Parent Assessment Form (PCSI-P) and children were given the appropriate version of the PCSI based on their age. Results 44 children (M = 14.05, SD = 2.49; sex: 12 male, 32 female) and 36 parents were included for analysis. Parents reported higher tiredness (M = 3.4, SD = 1.72) than children self-report (M = 2.57, SD = 1.88; t(34) = 2.84, p = 0.007), and higher irritability (M = 3.03, SD = 2.07) children self-report (M = 2.06, SD = 2.17; t(34) = 2.78, p = 0.009). In male and female self-report, males reported higher levels of feeling dazed (M = 3.33, SD = 1.75) than females (M = 1.58, SD = 1.74; t(28) = 2.20, p = 0.036),and higher levels of slowed response (M = 4.00, SD = 1.23) than females (M = 2.13, SD = 1.96; t(27) = 2.04, p = 0.05). No differences were found between parent reports of male and female children. Conclusion Our findings highlight discrepancies between parent and child reports of concussion-related symptoms, emphasizing the need for self and parent report assessments in clinical concussion evaluations. Furthermore, sex differences in self-reported symptoms underscore the importance of considering sex-related factors in concussion management and treatment.