Recovery of intellectual ability following traumatic brain injury in childhood: Impact of injury severity and age at injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have a profound impact on a child's ongoin g development. Various risk factors have been found to predict outcome, but considerable variability remains unexplained. This study used a prospectiv e, longitudinal design to examine the relationship between recovery, injury severity, age at injury and pre-injury ability. 124 children were divided according to (1) age at injury:'young' (3-7 years) 'old' (8-12) and (2) inj ury severity (mild, moderate, severe). Children were evaluated acutely (T1) and at 12 months post-injury (T2), using standardized intellectual measure s (IQ). Results showed a relationship between greater injury severity and p oorer IQ. Age at injury was not predictive of outcome for children with mil d/moderate TBI, For severe TBI, younger age at injury led to minimal recove ry in IQ, while recovery from later injury was similar to that for adults. Findings suggest that children sustaining severe TBI in early childhood may be particularly at risk for residual problems post-injury. Copyright (C) 2 000 S. Karger AG. Basel.