Comparing memory and meta-memory abilities between children with acquired brain injury and healthy peers

Rachel Kizony; Shoshi Tau; Orly Bar; Batya Engel Yeger

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.041

Comparing memory and meta-memory abilities between children with acquired brain injury and healthy peers

Res Dev Disabil. 2014 Jul;35(7):1666-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.041. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Authors

Rachel Kizony¹, Shoshi Tau², Orly Bar³, Batya Engel Yeger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; Department of Occupational Therapy, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. Electronic address: rkizony@univ.haifa.ac.il.
² Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; Ministry of Education, Local Resource Center for Special Education Services, Raanana, Israel.
³ Pediatric Rehabilitation Department, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
⁴ Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.

PMID: 24726285
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.041

Abstract

This study compared visual memory and meta-memory abilities of children with ABI to that of healthy peers. Participants included 16 children (aged 13.55 ± 3.29 years) with moderate or severe ABI and 16 healthy children (aged 12.44 ± 3.24 years) with typical development. Children completed the Contextual Memory Test for Children (CMT-CH). The study group showed significantly lower immediate and delayed recall abilities. While the controls used the context for better memorizing, most of the children with ABI used rehearsals. In both groups better delayed recall correlated with the use of a more efficient strategy. Meta-memory should be an integral part of the assessment for children with ABI. Therapists should enhance child's self-awareness to his/her abilities and encourage the use of strategies (e.g. context) for memorizing in daily life.

Keywords: Acquired brain injuries; Children; Meta-memory; Visual memory.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Awareness*
Brain Injuries / diagnosis*
Brain Injuries / psychology
Child
Discrimination Learning
Female
Humans
Male
Memory Disorders / diagnosis*
Memory Disorders / psychology
Memory, Short-Term
Neuropsychological Tests
Pattern Recognition, Visual
Recognition, Psychology
Retention, Psychology