摘要:

Improvement in performance can occur up to 10 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Few previous studies have examined the long-term effects of TBI on information processing. This study used reaction time (RT) tasks of increasing complexity with 10-year post-injury, 5-year post-injury, and control groups to assess any such effects. There were no significant group differences in mean RT; however, in the groups of persons with head injury only, response latency was related to age and to task demands. Older members of the groups of persons with head injury were slower than controls. The variability in performance was significantly higher in the 5-year post-injury group than in both the 10-year group and the control group. There were no significant differences among the groups in their ability to inhibit the processing of redundant information. There were no correlations between any dependent measure and severity of injury. Speed of processing is more sensitive to task complexity in individuals with head injury, but only when age at injury is considered. Most importantly, for rehabilitation purposes, recovery of consistency in performance can be expected more than 5 years after a TBI.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124197

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

To determine what consequences cognitive, behavioural or somatic impairments had on disabilities and recovery after a head injury (HI), a population-based sample of 231 adult patients was studied 5 years after an HI. Eighty lower-limb-injured (LLI) patients were considered as controls. Sixty-four LLI and 176 HI patients were reviewed (114 minor, 35 moderate, and 27 severe HI). Prevalence values of headaches (44-54%), dizziness (26-37%), and anxiety (47-63%) were not significantly different in the three HI severity groups, but were significantly lower in patients with an isolated limb injury (12-15%). Memory problems and depressive mood increased with injury severity. Mental impairments were frequent in severe HI patients (18-40% of patients). In minor and moderate HI patients, most disabilities were related to associated injuries. According to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), recovery was not considered as good because of somatic, behavioural or cognitive complaints in 2 5%, 5 7% and 59 2% of surviving patients in each of the above HI groups. Somatic or behavioural complaints may have considerable consequences in some minor HI patients, and the long-term management of certain patients needs improvement because these impairments are misunderstood.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124205

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Residual memory deficits may represent a problem to the everyday functioning of a large number of people, including those who have sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present exploratory study sought to investigate the interrelationships between subjective memory reports, performance on traditional memory tests, and performance on tests of prospective memory. These interrelationships were contrasted between a group of 24 adults who had sustained TBI and a group of 24 matched control subjects. Prospective memory was hypothesized to be indicative of everyday memory functioning. The results provided preliminary evidence that prospective memory tests are sensitive to TBIrelated neurological impairment and, in comparison to traditional tests, may be better indicators of functional memory capacity. This pattern was particularly true for control subjects, possibly because TBI subjects had difficulties in evaluating their memory functioning.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124214

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

This paper reports on a meta-analysis of behavioural data gathered using single case research methodology, while evaluating the immediate effects of a treatment (sensory stimulation) on 24 individuals diagnosed as being in vegetative state following trauma. The data derived from time sampling have been used to compile measures of behavioural change in response to environmental events, which are referred to as arousal profiles. In addition to this, interviews were conducted regularly to elicit structured observations from the nursing staff concerning behavioural changes that they had observed. The subjects were divided into two groups according to whether they had emerged from vegetative state or not at the time the meta-analysis commenced. Statistically significant differences were found between the outcome groups in terms of modal arousal profile characteristics; one profile type was characteristic only of those that emerged. The two groups could also be differentiated by the mean recovery curves derived from the interviewdata. Behavioural differences between the outcome groups have been found which are detectable while the patients are in vegetative state. These findings have prognostic potential.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124223

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The European Head Injury Evaluation Chart (EHIEC) was designed by the European Brain Injury Society to assess head-injured patients from the initial insult to several years following injury. We describe the experience of using the EHIEC in assessing 56 consecutive traumatically brain-injured people admitted to an early inpatient brain injury rehabilitation programme over a 9-month period. An account of its use on admission and at discharge in a subgroup of 40 cases is also given. The difficulties in relation to the length of time to administer the EHIEC, the wording, definition and scoring of items are discussed. We suggest that an instruction manual is required and conclude that, while in its present form it represents a potentially useful checklist, further work is needed to refine the instrument and establish its validity and reliability.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124232

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Present tests are often inadequate to assess subtle aspects of cognitive-communicative functioning following traumatic brain injury (TBI), making it difficult to predict vocational readiness, particularly for those in professional occupations. This study examined the viability of the Ross Test of Higher Cognitive Processes (RTHCP) as a measure of verbal reasoning deficits following TBI. The verbal reasoning performance of a 43-year-old lawyer with TBI was compared, at two stages in his rehabilitation, to that of a peer group of lawyers (n =43). The RTHCP detected noticeable differences in speed and accuracy of performance at different stages of recovery. The RTHCP also revealed individual differences among the peer group, who presumably were competent in verbal reasoning. Thus, the RTHCP may be an effective tool to measure subtle deficits in verbal reasoning post-TBI. Some cautions in using this test for the TBI population are presented, as well as suggestions for further test development and validation.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124241

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

A man, 8 years post-injury, who was still experiencing poor impulse control and poor directional orientation, was taught to follow directions and to take city buses to and from his vocational placement. This was a new skill for the subject as he was from a rural area and thus had no premorbid experience using a transit system. In-vivo functional training was conducted, similar to the method used by Sowers et al. [1] to train a severely retarded adult to ride buses to and from work. In-vivo training was supplemented by daily planning sessions in which the subject would review the route and instructions prior to each ride. The subject was able to learn the bus route from the treatment centre to the job site in 1 week. Upon discharge to a transitional living centre in the same city the subject was able, again in 1 week, to learn new bus routes, and to take the buses back and forth between his new residence and his vocational placement.

ISSN:0269-9052    

DOI:10.1080/026990596124250

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor