Exploring the use of cognitive intervention for children with acquired brain injury.
BACKGROUND
Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) often experience cognitive, motor, and psychosocial deficits that affect participation in everyday activities. Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is an individualized treatment that teaches cognitive strategies necessary to support successful performance.


OBJECTIVE
This study explores the use of CO-OP with children with ABI.


METHODS
Children with ABI, experiencing school and self-care difficulties, were identified from a previous study. Six children, aged 6-15 years, completed 10 weekly intervention sessions with occupational therapists. Children and parents rated the child's performance of challenging everyday tasks and their satisfaction with this performance. Task performance was also evaluated objectively through videotape analysis.


RESULTS
Participants showed significant improvement in their ability to perform child-chosen tasks and maintained this performance 4 months later. However, they had difficulty applying the executive problem-solving strategy and discovering cognitive strategies on their own. Issues related to the use of CO-OP with this population are discussed.
Missiuna
Cheryl
C
CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research and the School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. missiuna@mcmaster.ca
DeMatteo
Carol
C
Hanna
Steven
S
Mandich
Angela
A
Law
Mary
M
Mahoney
William
W
Scott
Louise
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome