Executive Function Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Young Children: A Five Year Follow-Up

Little is known about the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in very young children. This study used a prospective, cross-sectional design to investigate the impact of TBI on executive function (EF) outcomes in children who sustained a TBI before the age of seven. The study aimed to identify specific or global EF deficits five years post-TBI, and to explore factors that predicted outcomes. Fifty-four children with a TBI and 17 uninjured comparison children participated. Their performance on several cognitive and behavioral EF measures was examined. Results suggested that executive difficulties were present following severe TBI, however children with mild and moderate injuries were relatively unaffected. Skills that develop early appeared to be relatively robust. Injury severity was found to be most predictive of long-term EF, however other injury, child and family-related variables also contributed to outcomes.