@article{ref1,
title="Traumatic brain injury in veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Communication disorders stratified by severity of brain injury",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2013",
author="Norman, Rocío S. and Jaramillo, Carlos A. and Amuan, Megan and Wells, Margaret Ann and Eapen, Blessen C. and Pugh, Mary Jo",
volume="27",
number="13-14",
pages="1623-1630",
abstract="Abstract OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of communication disorders in veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Retrospective study of the prevalence of aphasia, fluency and voice disorders among veterans with different severity levels of TBI. Data was obtained from the VA National repository for OEF/OIF/OND veterans who received VA care in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011. RESULTS: Among the 303 716 veterans in this study, 1848 were diagnosed with a communication disorder; 40% of these were also diagnosed with a TBI. Voice disorders were the most prevalent diagnosis (3.5 per 1000) followed by aphasia (1.9 per 1000) and fluency disorder (0.7 per 1000). Individuals with a TBI diagnosis were more likely to have a diagnosis of aphasia, followed by fluency and then voice disorder. The odds ratio (OR) of aphasia with TBI was 11.09-252.75 (95% CI = 8.78-441.52, p < 0.01). OR for fluency disorders with TBI was 3.58-10.41 (95% CI = 2.56-42.40, p < 0.01) and association of voice disorders with TBI was significant for all levels of TBI severity (OR = 1.5-6.61, 95% CI = 1.24-14.05, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Veterans who sustained a TBI were more likely to have a diagnosis of a communication disorder, regardless of TBI severity. Those with TBI, including mild TBI, should be screened and evaluated for communication disorders.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.3109/02699052.2013.834380",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2013.834380"
}