Attentional skills in the acute phase following pediatric traumatic brain injury

Child Neuropsychol. 1999 Dec;5(4):251-64. doi: 10.1076/0929-7049(199912)05:04;1-R;FT251.

Abstract

Only a limited number of studies have investigated attention following pediatric head-injury. The present study examined sustained attention and processing speed in a group of children who had sustained a mild (n = 27), moderate (n = 33) or severe (n = 16) traumatic brain injury (TBI). No significant differences were evident between the TBI groups on reaction time measures. Results did show that the severe TBI group exhibited greater deficits in the area of sustained attention, in comparison to children with mild and moderate injuries, in the acute stage following traumatic brain injury. This difficulty may impact on the future development of skills dependent on intact attentional capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Attention*
  • Brain Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Brain Injuries / psychology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Head Injuries, Closed / diagnosis*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / psychology
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / diagnosis
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology
  • Intelligence
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reference Values