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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Penny Glass, PhD, Child Development Center, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, (202) 884-4763, pglass@cnmc.org
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem affecting 1 in 500 children annually. A wide spectrum of neurocognitive sequelae is reported among pediatric TBI populations. The rate of occurrence of TBI prior to age 1 year, a period of rapid brain growth, is proportionally higher than at older ages, and yet neurodevelopmental status is virtually unknown. We are undertaking a follow-up study of infants who sustain head injury prior to age one year of sufficient severity to warrant a head CT scan and admission to the hospital for at least 12 hours. Brain injury severity is defined by the degree of abnormality on the acute CT scans. Outcome data are currently available for 20 children with TBI prior to age 1 year. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd ed.) (mental and motor index) was administered after age 1 year. Six (30%) were severely impaired (mental and motor index <50, or untestable) with permanent global handicaps. Seven (35%) were also significantly developmentally delayed (mental and motor index 50-70) and likely to need placement in special educational classes. Four children (20%) had test scores ranging from 70-85 and likely to need special education resources with possible mainstreaming. The remaining 3 children (15%) tested in the normal range (>85), although the possibility of later learning problems has not been ruled out. Infants with TBI are not routinely referred for evaluation unless markedly abnormal, but formal neurodevelopmental evaluation is necessary to identify the neurocognitive deficits in the majority of cases.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.