A prospective study of children with head injuries: I. Design and methods

Abstract

SYNOPSISThe main unresolved issues with respect to the psychological sequelae of brain damage in childhood are noted, and the previous studies of children suffering head injury are critically reviewed. A new prospective study is described. Three groups of children were studied: (a) 31 children with ‘severe’ head injuries resulting in a post-traumatic amnesia of at least 7 days; (b) an individually matched control group of 28 children with hospital-treated orthopaedic injuries; and (c) 29 children with ‘mild’ head injuries resulting in a post-traumatic amnesia exceeding 1 hour but less than 1 week. The children were studied as soon as possible after the accident and then again 4 months, 1 year, and 2¼ years after the injury. The parents were interviewed, using systematic and standardized interview techniques; both parents and teachers completed behavioural questionnaires; and the children were seen for individual psychological testing using the WISC, the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability and a battery of tests of more specific cognitive functions. At the final follow-up, the severe head injury group (but not the other 2 groups) received a systematic neurological examination and the school teacher who knew the child best was personally interviewed. The findings are given on physical handicap, neurological abnormality, school placement and psychiatric referrals. All types of disabilities were both more frequent and more persistent in the children with severe head injuries.

Long-term neuropsychological performance in a cohort of children and adolescents after severe paediatric traumatic brain injury

“…However, in 40% of the children improvement on the cognitive domains was found even years after rehabilitation. Others also found that improvement after TBI is possible [7,13,38,41,42]. Improvement was mostly found on the intelligence scales and on the attention assessment.…”

Working memory performance following paediatric traumatic brain injury

“…Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy or Autism), pre-injury diagnosis of mental retardation or prior brain injury were excluded from this study. Children were not excluded for pre-injury learning or behaviour problems in order to increase the generalizability of findings to the paediatric TBI population, which has been demonstrated to have an increased incidence of these problems [57,58]. Demographic and injury-related information are summarized in Tables I and II.…”

Epidemiologic characteristics and sequelae of closed head‐injured children and adolescents: A review

“…In particular, falls from tower blocks onto concrete as well as falls at home while playing have been common (Field, 1979). Other causes of HI in children have included injuries during accidents and child abuse (Jennett, 1972;Rutter, Chadwick, Shaffer, & Brown, 1980). In fact, child abuse has been found to be a main cause of HI in infants less than 1 year old (LangeCosack & Tepfer, 1973).…”