Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T05:03:09.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A prospective study of the recovery of attention from acute to 2 years following pediatric traumatic brain injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2005

CATHY CATROPPA
Affiliation:
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia University of Melbourne, Australia
VICKI ANDERSON
Affiliation:
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia University of Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Limited research has investigated specific attentional sequelae following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as sustained, selective, and shifting attention, as well as speed of processing. Little is known about the pattern of recovery of these skills or their interaction with ongoing development. The present study examined attentional abilities at acute, 6-, 12-, and 24-month time points postinjury in a group of 71 children who had sustained a mild, moderate, or severe TBI. Results indicated that children who sustained a severe TBI generally performed poorest, but showed most recovery over time. The pattern of recovery was dependent on the attentional component being measured. Specifically, deficits were most evident on more complex and timed tasks. While a number of areas showed recovery over time, for some attentional components, difficulties persisted to 24 months postinjury. (JINS, 2005, 11, 84–98.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, V., Anderson, P., Northam, E., Jacobs, R., & Catroppa, C. (2001). Development of executive functions through late childhood and adolescence: An Australian sample. Developmental Neuropsychology, 20, 385406CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, V. & Fenwick, T. (1998). Attentional skills following traumatic brain injury: A componential analysis. Brain Injury, 12, 937949.Google Scholar
Anderson, V. & Moore, C. (1995). Age at injury as a predictor following pediatric head injury: A longitudinal perspective. Child Neuropsychology, 1, 187202Google Scholar
Anderson, V. & Pentland, L. (1998). Residual attention deficits following childhood head injury: Implications for ongoing development. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 8, 283300.Google Scholar
Betts, J., McKay, J., Maruff, P., & Anderson, V. (In Revision). The development of sustained attention in children: The effect of age and task load. Developmental Psychology.
Brouwer, W.H., Rothengatter, J.A., & Van Wolfelaar, P.C. (1988). Compensatory potential in elderly drivers. In J.A. Rothengatter & R.A. DeBruin (Eds.), Road user behavior: Theory and research (pp. 296301). Van Gorcum, The Netherlands: Assen.
Catroppa, C. & Anderson, V. (2003). Children's attentional skills two years post-TBI. Developmental Neuropsychology, 23, 359373.Google Scholar
Catroppa, C., Anderson, V., & Stargatt, R. (1999). A prospective analysis of the recovery of attention following pediatric head injury. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 5, 4857.Google Scholar
Chadwick, O., Rutter, M., Brown, G., Shaffer, D., & Traub, M. (1981a). A prospective study of children with head injuries: II. Cognitive sequelae. Psychological Medicine, 11, 4961.Google Scholar
Chadwick, O., Rutter, M., Shaffer, D., & Shrout, P.E. (1981b). A prospective study of children with head injuries: IV Specific cognitive defects. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, 2, 101120.Google Scholar
Chadwick, O., Rutter, M., Thompson, J., & Shaffer, D. (1981c). Intellectual performance and reading skills after localized head injury in childhood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22, 117139.Google Scholar
Cooley, E.L. & Morris, R.D. (1990). Attention in children: A neuropsychologically based model for assessment. Developmental Neuropsychology, 6, 239274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniel, A. (1983). Power, privilege and prestige: Occupations in Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Longman Cheshire.
Dennis, M. (1989). Language and the young damaged brain. In T. Boll & B. Bryant (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology and brain function: Research, measurement and practice. (pp. 85124). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Dennis, M., Wilkinson, M., Koski, L., & Humphreys, R.P. (1995). Attention deficits in the long term after childhood head injury. In S.H. Broman & M.E. Michel. (Eds.), Traumatic head injury in children (pp. 165187). New York: Oxford University Press.
Donders, J. & Warschausky, S. (1997). WISC–III factor index score patterns after traumatic head injury in children. Child Neuropsychology, 3, 7178.Google Scholar
Ewing-Cobbs, L., Miner, M.E., Fletcher, J.M., & Levin, H.S. (1989). Intellectual, motor and language sequelae following closed head injury in infants and preschoolers. Journal of Paediatric Psychology, 14, 531547.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fay, G.C., Jaffe, K.M., Polissar, N.L., Liao, S., Martin, K.M., Schurtleff, H.A., Rivara, J.B., & Winn, H.R. (1993). Mild paediatric traumatic brain injury: A cohort study. Archives of Physiological Medical Rehabilitation, 74, 895901.Google Scholar
Goldstein, F.C. & Levin, H.S. (1985). Intellectual and academic outcome following closed head injury in children and adolescents: Research strategies and empirical findings. Developmental Neuropsychology, 1, 195214.Google Scholar
Gronwall, D., Wrightson, P., & McGinn, V. (1997). Effect of mild head injury during the preschool years. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 3, 592597.Google Scholar
Halperin, J.M. (1991). The clinical assessment of attention. International. Journal. of Neuroscience, 58, 171182.Google Scholar
Jaffe, K.M., Fay, G.C., Polissar, N.L., Martin, K.M., Shurtleff, H.A., Rivara, J.M.B., & Winn, H.R. (1992). Severity of pediatric traumatic brain injury and early neurobehavioural outcome: A cohot study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 73, 540547.Google Scholar
Jaffe, K.M., Fay, G.C., Polissar, N.L., Martin, K.M., Shurtleff, H.A., Rivara, J.M.B., & Winn, H.R. (1993). Severity of pediatric traumatic brain injury and neurobehavioural recovery at one year—A cohort study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 74, 587595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, K.M., Polissar, N.L., Fay, G.C., & Liao, S. (1995). Recovery trends over three years following pediatric traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 76, 1726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kail, R. (1986). Sources of age differences in speed of processing. Child Development, 57, 969987.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, P.M., Fletcher, J.M., Levin, H.S., Miner, M.E., & Ewing-Cobbs, L. (1993). Attentional disturbance after pediatric closed head injury. Journal of Child Neurology, 8, 348353.Google Scholar
Kolb, B. & Gibb, R. (1999). Neuroplasticity and recovery of function after brain injury. In D. Stuss, G. Winocur, & I. Robertson (Eds.), Cognitive neurorehabilitation (pp. 925). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Laurence, S. & Stein, D. (1978). Recovery after brain damage and the concept of localisation of function. In S. Finger (Ed.), Recovery from brain damage (pp. 369407). New York: Plenum Press.
Lennenberg, E. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley.
Levin, H.S., High, W.M., Goethe, K.F., Sisson, R.A., Overall, J.E., Rhoades, H.M., Eisenberg, H.M., Kalisky, Z., & Gary, H.E. (1987). The neurobehavioral rating scale: Assessment of the behavioral sequelae of head injury by the clinician. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 50, 183193.Google Scholar
Levin, H.S., Song, J., Scheibel, R.S., Fletcher, J.M., Harward, H., Lilly, M.M., & Goldstein, F. (1997). Concept formation and problem-solving following closed head injury in children. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 3, 598607.Google Scholar
Manly, T., Anderson, V., Robertson, I., & Nimmo-Smith, I. (1999). The test of everyday attention for children. London, England: Thames Valley Test Company.
Maule, A.J., Hockey, G.R.J., & Bdzola, L. (2000). Effects of time pressure on decision-making under uncertainty: Changes in affective state and information processing strategy. Acta Psychologica, 104, 283301.Google Scholar
McKay, K.E., Halperin, J.M., Schwartz, S.T., & Sharma, V. (1994). Developmental analysis of three aspects of information processing: Sustained, attention, selective attention, and response organization. Developmental Neuropsychology, 10, 121132.Google Scholar
Mirsky, A.F., Anthony, B.J., Duncan, C.C., Ahearn, M.B., & Kellam, S.G. (1991). Analysis of the elements of attention: A neuropsychological approach. Neuropsychology Review, 2, 109145.Google Scholar
Murray, R., Shum, D., & McFarland, K. (1992). Attentional deficits in head-injured children: An information processing analysis. Brain and Cognition, 18, 99115.Google Scholar
Ponsford, J. & Kinsella, G. (1992). Attentional deficits following closed-head injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 14, 822838.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Posner, M. & Peterson, S. (1990). The attention system of the human brain. Annual Review in Neuroscience, 15, 2542.Google Scholar
Rebok, G.W., Smith, C.B., Pascualvaca, D.M., Mirsky, A.F., Anthony, B.J., & Kellam, S.G. (1997). Developmental changes in attentional performance in urban children from eight to thirteen years. Child Neuropsychology, 3, 2846.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reitan, R.M. & Davison, L. (1974). Clinical neuropsychology: Current status and applications. Washington, DC: Winston & Sons.
Robin, D.A., Max, J.E., Stierwalt, J.A.G., Guenzer, L.C., & Lindgren, S.D. (1999). Sustained attention in children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury. Aphasiology, 13, 701708.Google Scholar
Rothi, L. & Horner, J. (1983). Restitution and substitution: Two theories of recovery with application to neurobehavioral treatment. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, 3, 7381.Google Scholar
Rowe, J.K. & Rowe, K.S. (1995). Rowe Behavioural Rating Inventory Profiles User's Guide. Centre for Applied Educational Research and Department of Paediatrics. The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Sparrow, S., Balla, D.A., & Cicchetti, D.V. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Interview Edition. Survey Form Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.
Stuss, D.T., Stethem, L.L., Hugenholtz, H., Picton, T., Pivik, J., & Richard, M.T. (1989). Reaction time after head injury: Fatigue, divided and focussed attention and consistency of performance. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 52, 742748.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B.G. & Fidell, L.S. (1989) Using multivariate statistics (2nd ed.) New York: Harper and Row Publishers.
Talland, G.A. (1965). Deranged memory. New York: Academic Press.
Taylor, G.H., Schatsneider, C., & Rich, D. (1992). Sequelae of Haemophilus Influenzae meningitis: Implications for the study of brain disease and development. In M.G. Tramontana & S.R. Hooper (Eds). Advances in child neuropsychology: Volume 1. (pp. 50108). New York: Springer-Verlag.
Teasdale, G. & Jennett, B. (1974). Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness: A practical scale. The Lancet, 2, 8183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Timmermans, S.R. & Christensen, B. (1991). The measurement of attention deficits in TBI children and adolescents. Cognitive Rehabilitation, 9, 2631.Google Scholar
van Zomeren, A.H. & Brouwer, W. (1994). Clinical neuropsychology of attention. New York: Oxford.
Wechsler, D. (1991). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 111. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wood, R.L. (1988). Attention disorders in brain injury rehabilitation. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 21, 327332.Google Scholar