The recovery of neuropsychological functions following acquired brain injury in children

• Main Author: Vella, Kristina
• Published: University of Nottingham 2013
• Subjects: 617.481
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.594868

Background: Acquired brain injuries may take many forms, with traumatic brain injury and brain tumours being the most common in children. Traumatic brain injury is one of the most frequent causes of disability in children. Brain tumours, although less common have seen increased rates of incidence in the last three decades possibly due to advances in neuroimaging technologies. Survival rates are increasing due to improved treatments. However, this is purported to come at the cost of increasing morbidity, as children are left with substantial difficulties in both their physical health and cognitive functioning. Objectives: The first objective was to examine the neuropsychological outcome of children with acquired brain injuries. The secondary objectives were to determine the factors related to emotional and behavioural outcomes within the first year of brain injury, and to determine the premorbid factors associated with different neuropsychological profiles after injury . Method: This study had a prospective cohort design. 77 children between the ages of 7 - 16 years were recruited. Information was collected at baseline and outcome, including parental ratings of children's pre-morbid emotional and behavioural functioning. Children were assessed at two time points using neuropsychological tests. Results: Children who had sustained traumatic injuries were rated as having worse pre-morbid levels of behaviour than either of the other groups. Furthermore, there was clearly a detrimental impact of both traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury on a number of other neuropsychological measures. Conclusions: Both traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury were associated with difficulties in numerous neuropsychological domains, which were persistent throughout the first year of injury. This relationship appears true for all children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, irrespective of the severity of their injury. However, in addition to this, there is evidence that a traumatic brain injury was associated with premorbid difficulties which appear to be exacerbated by their injury.