Academic and Language Outcomes in Children after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis

Expanding on Babikian and Asarnow's (2009) meta-analytic study examining neurocognitive domains, this current meta-analysis examined academic and language outcomes at different time points post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents. Although children with mild TBI exhibited no significant deficits, studies indicate that children with moderate and severe TBI exhibit persistent deficits. In children with moderate TBI, academic skills were impaired both postacutely and chronically, although there were no deficits in language skills at any time point. Children with severe TBI showed the most impairment, with deficits in all measured areas, and partial recovery in some domains over time. The results of this meta-analysis may have important implications for school reentry, academic placement, and identifying children who require special services in school.