A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE LINGUISTIC SKILLS OF CHILDREN WITH CLOSED-HEAD INJURIES

Little research in the paediatric closed-head injury (CHI) literature has attempted to follow the course of recovery of CHI children over a prolonged period, particularly in the area of linguistic recovery. The present study documented the course of recovery of the linguistic ski lls of a group of 11 CHI children over an 18-month period post-injury. All of the CHI children studied demonstrated measurable gains in a nu mber of speech and language skills during the 18-month period post-inj ury. The results indicated that childhood CHI did not permanently disr upt the acquisition of any of the speech and language skills observed. A number of subjects did, however, continue to demonstrate measurable deficits in some language areas even at 18 months post-injury.