Neurocognitive Test Performance and Concussion-Like Symptom Reporting Among Adolescent Athletes With Self-Reported Autism on Preseason Assessments.

This article examines baseline neurocognitive functioning and symptom reporting among adolescent student athletes with self-reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). In a sample of 60,751 adolescents, 425 (0.7%) self-reported an ASD diagnosis and showed significantly lower scores on several cognitive composites compared to peers without ASD, though effect sizes were generally small. Adolescents with self-reported autism endorsed a higher rate of concussion-like symptoms at baseline, particularly sensory sensitivities and emotional symptoms, with boys endorsing more symptoms than girls; however, no gender differences in symptom reporting were found within the ASD group. The study highlights that student athletes with self-reported autism likely experience low functional impairment but have higher rates of comorbidities such as ADHD and mental health conditions, suggesting that concussion management for these youth should be more intensive and multidisciplinary to support recovery and school reintegration.