Within the context of a longitudinal study investigating
outcome for children following traumatic brain injury,
this paper reports on the utility of neuropsychological
testing in predicting academic outcome in children 2 years
following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Twenty-nine school-age
children who were admitted to hospital after TBI were assessed
with a battery of neuropsychological and academic measures
at 3 and 24 months postinjury. The neuropsychological battery
included measures of memory, learning, and speed of information
processing. Academic outcome was assessed in terms of post-TBI
change in school placement. According to logistic regression
analysis, change in placement from regular to special education
at 2 years post-TBI was predicted by injury severity and
by neuropsychological performance at 3 months post-TBI.
Findings suggest that neuropsychological testing is useful
in identifying children with special educational needs
subsequent to TBI. (JINS, 1997, 3, 608–616.)