The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines concussion as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, causing trauma or damage to brain cells. This results in chemical changes in the brain.
Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury (mTBI) because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious. Symptoms of a concussion can be acute and resolve quickly, while others experience persistent changes and difficulties for days, weeks or months following the injury.
The UWSHC’s Concussion Services are run by Speech Language Pathologists and graduate student clinicians. It is available to university students and community members. Individualized assessment, treatment, education, and support are provided to meet each patient’s unique needs across the continuum of recovery post-concussion. View/Download Concussion Service Flyer
Focus of services include:
- comprehensive intake and clinical interview to determine treatment referrals needed and pathways of services
- evaluation and treatment for cognitive, language, and executive functioning needs
Following the identification of needs, clients are provided direct client care for the above areas and supports for necessary referrals to other providers.
Clients may attend as few or many concussion clinic sessions per their specific needs in their recovery. Patients are welcome to bring important others in their life to the session for support and to provide additional information.
Scheduling/Booking
After booking an appointment online, you will receive a confirmation of your appointment through email. You will also receive a separate email from the UWSHC’s medical documentation platform, CounselEAR. You must complete the intake forms sent to you after booking your appointment at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Appointment Availability
UWSHC’s Concussion Services run during the university calendar dates for each semester, and available appointments in the booking link reflect this. Sessions are not available during interim dates between semesters; however, urgent requests during that time can be communicated to Kim Caul at caul@wisc.edu or (608) 262-1382.
In order for best care to be provided, it is recommended that patients interested in receiving services have had recent or past medical attention related to their concussion prior to scheduling a session.
Cost and Individual Session Length
Our clinic does not currently bill insurance carriers. The concussion services fees are as follows:
- University Students: $20/session
- Community Members: $40/session
Payment is due upon arrival at the clinic on the appointment date.
Sessions will last 1-2 hours, based on patient symptoms and needs. All patients should block 2 hours for their appointment. Initial or first appointments with Concussion Services will last closer to 2 hours. Cost is based on meeting patient needs within 2-hour blocked session time rather than exact minutes of services delivered.
If you have questions regarding the concussion clinic, please e-mail:
Kimberly Caul, MS/CCC-SLP, CBIS
caul@wisc.edu
Clinical Associate Professor
Speech and Language Services
I was a sophomore at UW Madison when I worked with UW Speech and Hearing’s Concussion Clinic. I received a concussion in the middle of the semester and was considering a medical withdrawal because of the severity of my concussion and how it impacted my schoolwork. I met with Kim Caul and her team, and they gave me a bunch of different resources, recommendations, and symptom management techniques to try to help improve not only my day-to-day symptoms, but the issues I was having in school as well. I had a follow-up appointment two weeks later, and in that time, I was able to reduce all concussion symptoms by over 75% thanks to their help. If it was not for the clinic and their services, I would not have been able to finish off the semester as a full-time student.
UW-Madison Student