Chapter 11: Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

  an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability affecting speech, language, cognition, psychosocial behavior, and physical functioning
• Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion


  a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a violent jarring or shaking or blunt instrument injury to the skill that may or may not result in loss of consciousness or seizures, but commonly causes temporary mild cognitive impairments such as confusion, disorientation, etc.
• Closed Head Injury (CHI)


  brain injury without a penetrating injury into the brain that may be the result of a direct blow to the head
• Open Head Injury (OHI)


  brain injury that involves a wound caused by a missile, instrument, or force strong enough to fracture the skull and cause brain damage
• Degenerative


  disorders with a progressive deterioration of tissue, structure, or function over time
• Neuroplasticity


  the ability of the central nervous system to change and adapt in response to environmental cues, education, experience, behavior, injury or disease
• World Health Organization (WHO)


  a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1948 with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland that is concerned with international public health
• Cognition


  the integrated mental functions such as attention, language processing, memory, learning, orientation, organization of information, etc.
• Cognitive-communication Disorder


  Difficulty with any aspect of communication that is affected by disruption of cognition
• Executive Functions 


  higher-level cognitive functions such as inhibition, flexibility of thinking, problem solving, planning, impulse control, concept formation, abstract thinking and creativity
• Perseveration


  automatic and involuntary repetition of a behavior beyond an intended point, including repetition of a word/phrase or hand gesture that may be caused by neurological impairment of psychiatric disorder
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

  tasks performed in a typical day that allow independent living in the home, community, and work/school environments (dressing, hygiene, self-feeding, etc.)
• Subconcussion


  a biomechanical force to the head or body similar to, or less than, that required for symptomatic concussion but without symptoms and clinical presentation consistent with concussion
• Post-concussion (post-concussive) syndrome (PCS)


  vague or nonspecific symptoms that are a continuation of symptoms seen in the acute phase of a mild TBI that may last for several weeks or months with physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, cognitive impairments
• Second-impact Syndrome


  a rare injury in which an individual receives a second concussion before the symptoms of the prior concussion have completely resolved.
• Emotional Lability


  an uncontrolled and often rapidly changing expression of emotions or mood swings sometimes occurring with neurological impairments. Typically crying easily for no apparent reason or inappropriate laughter.
• Neuropsychologist


  a psychologist who specializes in the study of the relationships among the brain, cognition, behavior, and emotion