title: Neuropsychological benefits of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (using FORAMENRehab program) in children with mild traumatic brain injury or partial epilepsy: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of children with different cognitive difficulties is constantly increasing. Still, too few evidence-based pediatric neurocognitive rehabilitation programs exist. The main aim of the study was to assess the efficiency and usability of computer-assisted FORAMENRehab program for training specific components of attention in children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and partial epilepsy (PE). The second aim was to specify short- and long-term effects of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children between the ages of 9-12 years with attention impairment (3 with PE and 5 with mTBI) and 18 healthy controls participated. FORAMENRehab Attention software, adapted by the authors, was used for intervention. Strict intervention protocol consisting of patients completing 10 sessions over a 6-week-period to train four components of attention (sustaining, focusing, dividing, tracking) was designed and applied. Follow-up assessments were conducted after the end of the last training and 1.63 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the intervention patients' sustained and complex attention improved. Long-term follow-up revealed continuing positive rehabilitation effects. 100% compliance suggested that the used method is attractive for children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results of the pilot study give reason to presume that the method is effective in attention impairment remediation. However, more thorough research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Clinic, Tallinn Children's Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia.|Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.|Institute of Psychology, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: Mari-Liis
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kaldoja
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Children's Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saard
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Triin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raud
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ott-Kaarel
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Teeveer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Children's Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolk
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012984:Software; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted
keywords: FORAMENRehab; Pediatric rehabilitation; attention impairment; computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation; epilepsy; mild traumatic brain injury