Primary objective: Disruptions to executive function (EF) may occur as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI), in the context of direct damage to frontal regions or in association with disruption of connections between these areas and other brain regions. Little investigation of EF has occurred following TBI during childhood and there is little evidence of possible recovery trajectories in the years post-injury. The present study aimed to (i) examine whether a dose-response relationship exists between injury severity and EF; (ii) document recovery of EF in the 2 years post-injury and (iii) determine any additional predictors of outcome in the domain of EF.
Research design: The study employed a prospective, longitudinal design, with participants recruited at time of injury and followed over a 2-year period.
Methods and procedures: The study examined EF in a group of 69 children who had sustained a mild, moderate or severe TBI. Four components of EF were assessed: (i) attentional control; (ii) planning, goal setting and problem solving; (iii) cognitive flexibility; and (iv) abstract reasoning.
Outcomes and results: Results showed that, while children with severe TBI performed most poorly during the acute stage post-injury, they exhibited greatest recovery of EF over a 24-month period. Regardless, functional deficits remained most severe for this group 2 years post-injury. Results demonstrated the multi-dimensional nature of EF and the differential recovery of skills, following childhood TBI. Pre-injury ability and age at injury were identified as significant predictors of EF and functional skills.
Conclusions: Children sustaining severe TBI at a young age are particularly vulnerable to impairments in EF. While these difficulties do show some recovery with time since injury, long-term deficits remain and may impact on ongoing development.