Citation

Crowe LM, Catroppa C, Babl FE, Rosenfeld JV, Anderson V. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2012; 37(7): 745-754.

Affiliation

Critical Care and Neuroscience, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Psychological Science, University of Melbourne, Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Alfred Hospital, and Department of Surgery, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jss070

PMID

22669504

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Typically, studies on outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have investigated whether a younger age at injury is associated with poorer recovery by comparing 2 age groups rather than participants injured across childhood. This study extended previous research by examining whether the influence of age on recovery fits an early vulnerability or critical developmental periods model. METHODS: Children with a TBI (n = 181) were categorized into 4 age-at-injury groups-infant, preschool, middle childhood, and late childhood-and were evaluated at least 2-years post-TBI on IQ. RESULTS: Overall, the middle childhood group had lower IQ scores across all domains. Infant and preschool groups performed below the late childhood group on nonverbal and processing speed domains. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectations, children injured in middle childhood demonstrated the poorest outcomes; this age potentially coincides with a critical period of brain and cognitive development.

Language: en