AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Brains Worldwide Foundation NFP today launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help advance research and awareness associated with misdiagnosed and undetected concussions in youth sports and other activities. Funds will be used in part to provide 150 families—with children 8-18 years old—greatly discounted home testing systems to objectively assess damage to their child’s brain, facilitate communications with doctors and monitor brain health for return-to-play decisions. In turn, the foundation will implement research and seek feedback from these families to better serve users when Brains Worldwide International releases the technology to the medical community, coaches, trainers and parents in spring of 2016.
The campaign’s goal is also to raise funds to drive awareness of the hidden dangers of brain concussions and provide college scholarships for injured student-athletes. Parents, coaches, athletes and trainers can participate and learn more at TheHiddenDanger.com.
“Researchers estimate as many as 90 percent of youth concussions are missed or never diagnosed, meaning up to 3 million children could be walking around with undetected concussions,” said Oz Schaefer, inventor and founder of Brains Worldwide Foundation. “Far too often their symptoms are mistaken for other conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or depression. Our foundation provides parents with effective tools to play a major role in keeping their children safe from the hidden danger of undetected concussions.”
OBCAMS Technology Aims to Keep Kids Safe
The new technology for concussion detection, called Objective Brain Concussion Assessment and Monitoring System (OBCAMS), gives families and non-medical personnel a portable, affordable assessment tool to objectively test the brain for concussion symptoms with clinical accuracy. They can then seek medical help with objective data and make smarter decisions about whether or not to let their children return to the playing field following a documented concussion.
In just 10 minutes, the OBCAMS objectively tests the major areas of the brain that control memory, balance, reaction time, focus and vision, as well as the many hidden symptoms of concussion such as fatigue or mood swings. It provides immediate feedback about altered brain functions in those areas, helping parents and practitioners accurately assess potential concussions and make better, more informed decisions about whether the athlete should return to play.
In early prototype testing, the OBCAMS assessed 2,000 athletes, combat veterans and children. The system identified 401 of those individuals with concussion symptoms. Of the 401 identified, 152 had been previously misdiagnosed or had gone undiagnosed. After further medical evaluation, medical professionals independently verified concussions in every one of the people identified as at risk by the OBCAMS.
Brains Worldwide Foundation’s Indiegogo campaign launched on #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Visit www.givingtuesday.org for more information.
About Brains Worldwide Foundation
Brains Worldwide Foundation NFP is impacting the lives of those who have suffered from misdiagnosed or undiagnosed concussions, including servicemen, women, children and athletes. The foundation’s mandate is to provide education on the hidden dangers of brain concussions, conduct research on objective assessment technologies for concussions and fund college scholarships for injured student-athletes. Visit www.TheHiddenDanger.com to learn more about the innovative work being done to keep children safe.
