Mild closed-head injury in children and adolescents: behavior problems and academic outcomes.
The issue of whether mild head injuries (HIs) in children cause behavior problems and poor scholastic performance is controversial. This study included 119 children (range = 8-16 years old) with HI, 114 with other injuries, and 106 with no injury (NI). Behavioral functioning was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist; academic functioning, with school grades and standardized testing. Higher T scores were found for both injury groups versus NI participants on preinjury behavioral status. All 3 groups' behavioral scores decreased relative to baseline at 1 year. HI and NI groups did not differ in school grades or achievement testing either pre- or postinjury. These results are consistent with the conclusion that head injury of the mildest type does not increase the probability of new overt behavioral or academic problems.
Light
R
R
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, USA. rlight@ucla.edu
Asarnow
R
R
Satz
P
P
Zaucha
K
K
McCleary
C
C
Lewis
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology