Mini Symptom Index Tool plus modified Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (mSIT Plus) for acute concussion identification: findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium

The purpose of this study was to (1) rigorously evaluate the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) 22-item symptom list and improve the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity by creating the mini Symptom Index Tool (mSIT) and (2) identify the added utility of other examinations to include with the mSIT.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists and vestibular specialists working in sports medicine settings should monitor this tool's validation progress, as it incorporates vestibular-ocular motor screening that overlaps with their scope; no immediate practice change is warranted from this single study.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Improved acute concussion identification tools that integrate vestibular-ocular screening could increase collaboration between audiologists/vestibular therapists and sports medicine teams.

✦ Key Points ✦

01mSIT Plus combines a mini symptom index with modified Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) for sideline concussion detection.
02Evaluated against the established SCAT 22-item symptom list in NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium data.
03Vestibular-ocular motor screening is a component directly relevant to audiologists and vestibular specialists.
04Published in British Journal of Sports Medicine (doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110330).
05Large multi-site consortium data enhances generalisability of findings.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

mSIT Plus can identify acute concussion as effectively as or better than the SCAT 22-item symptom list.

studyunclear

Incorporating vestibular-ocular motor screening improves acute concussion identification.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42091213
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110330.
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 2b
Population: Collegiate and military athletes with suspected acute concussion enrolled in the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium
Intervention: Mini Symptom Index Tool plus modified Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (mSIT Plus)
Comparator: SCAT 22-item symptom list

Primary outcomes

Acute concussion identification accuracy

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