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A prospective analysis of the recovery of attention following pediatric head injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1999

CATHY CATROPPA
Affiliation:
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia University of Melbourne, Australia
VICKI ANDERSON
Affiliation:
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia University of Melbourne, Australia
ROBYN STARGATT
Affiliation:
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Little is known about specific attentional sequelae following a closed head injury, their pattern of recovery or their interaction with ongoing development. The present study examined attentional abilities in a group of children who had sustained a mild, moderate, or severe head injury. Results showed that the severe head injury group exhibited greater deficits on a number of attentional measures at acute and 6 months postinjury phases, in comparison to children in the mild and moderate head injury groups. Specifically, deficits were most evident on timed tasks where speed of processing was an integral component. Difficulties persisted to at least 6 months postinjury and so may lead to cumulative deficits over time. (JINS, 1999, 5, 48–57.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 The International Neuropsychological Society

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