Citation

Treble-Barna A, Zhang N, Zang H, Taylor HG, Yeates KO, Wade SL. J. Neurotrauma 2016; 34(2): 353-362.

Affiliation

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Pediatrics , 3333 Burnet Avenue MLC 4009 , Cincinnati, Ohio, United States , 45229-3039 ; shari.wade@cchmc.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2016.4476

PMID

27080734

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to characterize long-term neuropsychological outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during early childhood and determine whether identified neuropsychological impairments mediated the effect of TBI on long-term adaptive functioning. Participants included 16 children with severe TBI, 42 children with moderate TBI, and 72 children with orthopedic injuries (OI) sustained between ages 3 and 7 years. Children completed neuropsychological tests and caregivers completed a structured interview of child adaptive functioning at 6.9 (±1.10) years post injury. Profile analysis and multiple mediator modeling were employed. Children with severe TBI demonstrated poorer fluid reasoning and inhibitory control relative to both children with moderate TBI and OI, as well as slower processing speed relative to the OI group. Both fluid reasoning and processing speed were significant independent mediators of the effect of severe TBI on adaptive functioning. No neuropsychological measure significantly mediated the effect of moderate TBI on adaptive functioning. Children sustaining early severe TBI demonstrate persisting neuropsychological impairments into adolescence and young adulthood. The impact of severe TBI on children's long-term adaptive functioning is mediated in part by its effects on fluid reasoning and processing speed.

Language: en