Attention remediation following traumatic brain injury in childhood and adolescence.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently affects both the basic and the superordinate components of attention; deficits vary according to patient age. This study evaluated the efficacy of a specific remediation intervention for attention. Sixty-five TBI patients (aged 6?18 years) with attention deficit were assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up: 40 patients received attention-specific neuropsychological training for 6 months, and the control group comprised 25 patients. Cognitive assessment included a Wechsler Intelligence Scale (e.g., A. Orsini, 1993) and the Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II; C. K. Conners, 2000). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS; S. Sparrow, D. Balla & D. V. Cicchetti, 1984) was administered to assess the treatment's ecological validity. At baseline, all patients presented with a mild intellectual disability and pathological scores on the CPT II. At follow-up, significant differences were found between the 2 groups on the CPT II and VABS: The clinical group improved more than the control group. Specific remediation training for attention, including a combination of a process-specific approach and metacognitive strategies, significantly improved attention performance. Improvement in attention skills also affected adaptive skills positively.
Galbiati
Susanna
S
IRCCS E. Medea, La Nostra Famiglia, Lecco, Italy.
Recla
Monica
M
Pastore
Valentina
V
Liscio
Mariarosaria
M
Bardoni
Alessandra
A
Castelli
Enrico
E
Strazzer
Sandra
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies