Higher Brain Dysfunction after Traumatic Brain Injury in School-aged Children: Review of the Literature

Abstract

Higher brain dysfunction after traumatic brain injury in school-aged children potentially have serious impact on their lives than adults, because children are on their developmental way to be mature adults under the environment they should learn various knowledge and skills. Neuropsychological, psychosocial, and academic conditions/outcomes are evaluated by appropriate tools and methods for them. Medical care and support are planned on the basis of their conditions and modified with time in response to their outcomes. Cognitive rehabilitation has been developing to contribute the recovery from their impairment and return to school through four major tactics; improvement of higher brain dysfunction itself, acquirement of compensatory maneuvers/adjustment of environment, support for re-entry to school or finding employment, and acceleration for understanding or acceptance of impairment to people concerned including parents. The number of highly qualified study such as randomized clinical trial or meta-analytic clinical research is still few especially in Japan while developing basic research with a focus on neuroimaging is contributing to the clinical attempt. The issues related to concussion or post-concussion syndrome would be more and more attention in the future.