Citation

Crowe LM, Catroppa C, Babl FE, Anderson V. Child Neuropsychol. 2013; 19(2): 113-126.

Affiliation

Department of Psychological Science , University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09297049.2011.651079

PMID

22384854

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of disability in childhood. While the outcomes of TBI sustained in school years has been heavily researched, very little is known about the impact of TBI in infants and young children. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of TBI on executive function (EF) in children who sustained a TBI before 3 years of age. A group of 55 children, 19 with a mild TBI, 16 children with a moderate-severe TBI, and 20 uninjured comparison children participated. The EF of children aged 3 to 6 years were compared using child-based measures of attentional control and information processing. Parents completed questionnaires rating their child's EF. Severity groups differed on the child-based EF measure of attentional control with children with TBI performing below the control group. There were no significant group differences for information processing or parent-rated EF. It appears that children who sustain a TBI before the age of 3 years display impairments in some areas of attentional control 3-4 years postinjury. The findings fit with the existing EF literature for older children.

Language: en