Early prediction of language impairment following traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated which factors collected early in the acute care setting (age, education, cerebral imaging, Glasgow Coma Scale score) would predict initial impairments of language comprehension and expression in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) of all severity.


METHODS
Results of language tests carried out during the patients' stay in an acute tertiary trauma centre were obtained. These tests measured performance in the areas of confrontation naming, auditory comprehension, semantic and letter category naming and comprehension of verbal absurdities. Data for the predictive variables were gathered by retrospective chart review. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were carried out on the predictive variables.


RESULTS
Education and TBI severity as measured with the GCS score were the most significant factors predicting language deficits in the acute care setting.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings will serve to guide health care professionals in predicting prognosis for cognitive-communication deficits post-TBI and in planning for appropriate resources in speech-language pathology to meet these patients' needs.
Leblanc
Joanne
J
Traumatic Brain Injury Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Qudbec, Canada. joanne.leblanc@mcgill.ca
De Guise
Elaine
E
Feyz
Mitra
M
Lamoureux
Julie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D004522:Educational Status; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors