Beneficial effect from a cognitive training programme on children with acquired brain injuries demonstrated in a controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of a cognitive training programme in children and adolescents with attention and memory deficits after acquired brain injury (ABI).


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Thirty-eight children with ABI, 9-16 years of age.


METHODS
The treatment group trained with the cognitive programme for 30 minutes per day interactively with a teacher or parent for a period of 17 weeks. Children in the control group had a freely chosen interactive activity 30 minutes daily for 17 weeks. Pre- and post-training assessments were made using a neuropsychological test battery.


RESULTS
Significant improvements in the majority of neuropsychological tests of sustained and selective attention as well as in memory performance were shown in the treatment group as compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The immediate effect of the training programme improved complex attention and memory functions, indicating that this method may be a valuable treatment option for improving cognitive efficiency in children after ABI. On the basis of these results, the next step will be to evaluate long-term effects and further ecological validity.
Hooft
I Van't
IV
Neuropediatric Unit, Astrid Lindgren's Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ingrid.vant.hooft@bup.sll.se
Andersson
K
K
Bergman
B
B
Sejersen
T
T
Von Wendt
L
L
Bartfai
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome