A prospective study of the recovery of attention from acute to 2 years following pediatric traumatic brain injury.
Limited research has investigated specific attentional sequelae following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as sustained, selective, and shifting attention, as well as speed of processing. Little is known about the pattern of recovery of these skills or their interaction with ongoing development. The present study examined attentional abilities at acute, 6-, 12-, and 24-month time points postinjury in a group of 71 children who had sustained a mild, moderate, or severe TBI. Results indicated that children who sustained a severe TBI generally performed poorest, but showed most recovery over time. The pattern of recovery was dependent on the attentional component being measured. Specifically, deficits were most evident on more complex and timed tasks. While a number of areas showed recovery over time, for some attentional components, difficulties persisted to 24 months postinjury.
Catroppa
Cathy
C
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. cathy.catroppa@mcri.edu.au
Anderson
Vicki
V
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales