ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability in children worldwide and is often referred to as a closed head injury. When investigating outcomes of paediatric TBI, the child's developmental level as well as their family and support base at time of injury are of major importance and may impact on functioning in adulthood, unlike for adults with TBI. In keeping with a developmental perspective, children sustaining severe TBI in this age group have been found to be particularly vulnerable to impairments in attention and executive function. In a study focusing on children aged 8-12 years at time of injury, pre-injury reading, spelling and maths abilities predicted outcome in these areas post-injury. By the time the child reaches hospital, he or she will usually have sustained permanent primary impact-related brain injury, thought to be relatively resistant to medical treatment.
