Linguistic status following closed head injury in children: a follow-up study.
The speech and language functioning of a group of 20 children (aged 8-17) who had sustained a closed head injury at least 12 months previously was assessed with the purpose of developing a comprehensive profile of the type and severity of the long-term speech/language disorders exhibited by this group. The same group of subjects was then re-evaluated 12 months after the initial testing to monitor progress of the closed head-injured group in relation to a group of non-neurologically impaired controls. The subjects were administered a battery of speech/language assessments including articulation/phonological assessment; oromotor assessment; overall language test; and specific language skills assessments. Initial and re-test performance of the head-injured group was compared to that of a group of non-neurologically impaired accident victims matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. Comparison within the head-injured group of test and re-test performance was also carried out. Overall language performance scores of the head-injured group were found to be consistently significantly lower than achieved by the control group at both initial and re-test stages. Performance of the head-injured group had, however, improved significantly over the 12-month period.
Department of Speech and Hearing, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
F M
FM
Jordan
B E
BE
Murdoch
D000293:Adolescent; D000849:Anomia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests