Doctoral Thesis challenges perception of TBI recovery in children
A doctoral thesis written by an Australian man at the Victoria University shows that even a mild bump to the head of a child or teenager can cause life-long brain damage and symptoms similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dr. Steve Sflekas reported this in his thesis titled “Working Memory Impairments in Children and Adolescents after Traumatic Brain Injury” while working towards his PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. The thesis challenges the common assumption that the brain recovers to its same level after a small injury. His research found that children who suffered mild head injuries might score well in basic hospital and standard clinical neuropsychological screening tests, but up to six months later, they can continue to have difficulty concentrating, especially with multiple visual and auditory sources of stimulation. “A child with this type of head injury could listen to their teacher, but not write at the same time”, he said. “A large number of children are being wrongly diagnosed post-injury. Many are discharged without proper assessments and told there is no damage. Others are assumed to have learning disorders or ADHD when they show problems later, when in fact, it relates back to their bump on the head,” he continued. Using simple paper and pencil tests developed for the elderly to detect dementia could also be used on these children to test working memory. Children and teenagers assessed with mild brain injuries should participate as soon as possible in rehabilitation programs.
