An early onset rehabilitation program for children and adolescents after traumatic brain injury (TBI): Methods and first results.

Survived traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most serious challenges to the patient's future life. Recent literature increasingly questions the long believed protective effects of functional cerebral plasticity in children. Although TBI in children and adolescents is frequent, they are less frequently admitted to rehabilitation centers as in-patients than adults. This emphasizes the role of out-patient treatment. The progressing study described here aims to achieve a contribution to a comprehensive approach in TBI-rehabilitation for youngsters. A two-stage multimethodal program, starting with stimulation in coma while the patient is on the intensive care unit, and neuropsychological therapy after regaining consciousness is to be evaluated in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. After including nearly 50 % of the planned sample (100 persons), some preliminary results can be mentioned with all applicable caution. The effectiveness of the applied therapy can be stated here with respect to the posttraumatic development of intellectual abilities in the 6- and 12 months follow ups. Moreover, in the control group development of psychopathological alterations was found to a considerable degree and also lower ratings in a quality of life questionnaire, compared to the experimental group. It is expected to prove these differences statistically, after the total sample has been included, and thus equal distributions have been achieved in all predictive variables.

[Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. Differential evaluation of (partial) intellectual ability of mentally handicapped adults]. / Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children. Differenzierende Beurteilung der intellektuellen (Teil)leistungsfähigkeit geistig behinderter Erwachsener.

The use of the Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) was evaluated with a sample of 50 mentally disabled adults in a wide age range, as there exist no special tests for this group of patients. Intercorrelation--and factor analyses, and correlations with the German adaptation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (HAWIE-R) proved the use of the K-ABC to be valid. As an assessment battery for children designed for the wide age range from 2-6 to 12-5 years is more adequate to the capability of intellectually impaired adults, the K-ABC delivers results on individual strengths and weaknesses, based on a neuropsychological theory. Thus the individual cognitive abilities can be assessed with more differentiation, and that gives an important base for intervention, partial remediation, and placement.