Comprehensive assessment of memory functioning following traumatic brain injury in children

This study examined specific memory functions in 52 children with mild-mode rate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 29 noninjured controls usin g the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML). Children's reca ll varied as a function of injury severity and task demands. The participan ts with severe brain injuries performed worse than controls on global measu res of visual memory, learning, and general memory functioning, as well as on specific subtests measuring recall of contextual verbal information. Chi ldren with mild-moderate brain injuries performed similarly to controls exc ept for poorer performance on 2 subtests measuring sound-symbol learning an d recall of geometric designs. Results suggest that the WRAML provides clin ically useful information and that specific aspects of memory processing ne ed to be evaluated following childhood TBI.