KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A new study shows the rate of concussions among younger athletes is on the rise.

In the last 10 years, the number of children between 8 and 13 going to the emergency room for a concussion has doubled. In older teens, the number of visits more than tripled.

But a new computer test gives athletic trainers more information to make better decisions about your child's safety.

You like to see tough plays and hard hits. But this can seriously injure your child.

"You're seeing a lot more catastrophic injuries to athletes, college athletes that have had concussions and put back too soon and then they get hit again and they either die or have severe, life changing problems," says certified athletic trainer, Peggy Bratt who adds younger athletes are now bigger and stronger and they hit harder.
Which can lead to a concussion.

"If the brain is not allowed to completely heal, and the athlete returns to competition, it may not take a severe hit to cause even more severe symptoms."

New recommendations say athletes should not go back to play on a day they have a concussion and they should not watch tv or play video games while they rest.

"The tv, video games cause a lot of signals in the brain, causes the brain to be overactive and just like you have something bruised, you need to rest it," says Bratt.

That's why Blount Memorial Hospital is donating ImPACT tests to five area high schools. Aloca High School, Greenback High School, Heritage High School, Maryville High School and William Blount High School began the program on July 30.

Bratt says the computer based neurocognitive testing is a way to keep your children safe. Athletes are given the test before the season, then they're retested if they have a concussion.

"Until they score as good or better as they did on the test preconcussion, they don't play," says Bratt.

Which Bratt says could ultimately save your child's life.

"We want them in the game, we want them to compete, we want them to play, but we want them to be safe."

We have a link to the ImPACT test at the link below.