Tolerance for light and sound of patients with persistent post-concussional symptoms 6 months after mild head injury.
Patients with post-concussional symptoms (PCS) about 6 months after a mild head injury (MHI) were examined for tolerance of light and sound in comparison with concussed patients without PCS and non-concussed healthy controls. MHI patients with PCS were individually matched with subjects from the two control groups for the time elapsed from the injury, and for age and sex. Using a computerized rating technique, we assessed both the maximal and submaximal levels of lowered tolerance for light and sound over a wide range of stimuli. We found that the MHI patients with PCS 6 months after the trauma (n = 11) tolerated significantly less well stimuli of intensities of 71 dB and 500 lx than MHI patients without PCS (n = 11) and non-concussed controls (n = 11). There were no significant differences in tolerance for light and sound between MHI patients without PCS and the non-injured controls. Decreased tolerance for light and sound may contribute to the persistence of symptoms up to 6 months after a mild head injury. The psychophysical method provides an objective measure for the evaluation of the late persistent post-concussional syndrome.
Bohnen
N
N
Department of Neuropsychology and Psychobiology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Twijnstra
A
A
Wijnen
G
G
Jolles
J
J
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006941:Hyperesthesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis