Early Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury and Later Academic Struggles

After moderate-to-severe TBI in early childhood, most children had academic needs that persisted until middle school.

Prior studies in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) show that postinjury academic problems persist or worsen with time, but long-term data are lacking.

In the current longitudinal study, researchers assessed academic outcomes in 58 previously healthy children who sustained accidental TBI at age 3 to 7 years. Follow-up (mean, 7 years) was until entry into middle school. Controls were 72 children hospitalized for orthopedic injury. TBI was severe in 16 children, moderate in 14, and complicated mild in 28. Outcomes included various indicators of need for academic services (e.g., full scale IQ <80), service utilization, and unmet educational needs.

Results were as follows (as compared with the control group):

The severe TBI group had eleva…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Early Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury and Later Academic Struggles

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Reviewing Author