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To investigate reported burden by the Primary Family Caregiver (PFC) 7-years after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury in the TGE (Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant) longitudinal study. Subjective burden was estimated with the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) in 36 PFC (parents), who rated their own health status (Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12), family functioning and their child's level of care and needs (Pediatric/Adult Care And Needs Scale [PCANS/CANS]). Data collection included: child and PFC sociodemographic characteristics, injury-related factors, 'objective' (e.g. overall level of disability: Glasgow Outcome Scale – Extended, GOS-E/GOS-E-Peds) and 'subjective' outcomes (e.g. participation, behavior, executive functions, quality of life and fatigue). 25% of PFC reported mild-moderate burden, and 19% moderate-severe burden. Higher burden correlated with worse outcomes in all 'subjective' PFC-rated outcomes, and with self-reported participation. The ZBI correlated strongly with CANS/PCANS and GOS-E/GOS-E-Peds. Overall level of disability and PFC-reported executive functioning explained 62% of the ZBI variance. For equal levels of disability, burden was higher when PFC reported a 'negative' picture of their child. Significant PFC-reported burden 7-years post-injury was associated with overall disability and 'subjective' PFC-rated outcomes. Factors influencing parental burden in the long term should be identified and psychological support implemented over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To perform a detailed description of executive functioning following moderate-to-severe childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to study demographic and severity factors influencing outcome. Methods: A convenience sample of children/adolescents aged 7-16 years, referred to a rehabilitation department after a TBI (n = 43), was compared to normative data using a newly developed neuropsychological test battery (Child Executive Functions Battery--CEF-B) and the BRIEF. Results: Performance in the TBI group was significantly impaired in most of the CEF-B subtests, with moderate to large effect sizes. Regarding everyday life, patients were significantly impaired in most BRIEF clinical scales, either in parent or in teacher reports. Univariate correlations in the TBI group did not yield significant correlations between the CEF-B and socio-economic status, TBI severity, age at injury, or time since injury. Conclusion: Executive functioning is severely altered following moderate-tosevere childhood TBI and is best assessed using a combination of developmentally appropriate neuropsychological tests and behavioral ratings to provide a comprehensive understanding of children's executive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore memory functioning 7 years after severe paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), associated factors, and relationships with other outcomes. Method: Children aged 0–15 years (n = 65), consecutively admitted over a 3‐year period in a single trauma centre, who survived after severe non‐inflicted TBI, were included in a prospective longitudinal study. Memory assessments were performed 7 years post‐injury using the Children's Memory Scale or the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS IV), according to age. The General Memory Score (GMS‐7) was the primary outcome. Results: Thirty‐seven patients were available for assessment at 7 years post‐injury. Mean GMS‐7 was in the low average range (M = 84.9, SD = 12.1). Lower GMS‐7 was significantly associated with markers of higher injury severity, such as length of coma. One year post‐injury functional and disability outcomes explained 74% of the variance of GMS‐7. Concurrent intellectual ability and type of ongoing education correlated strongly with GMS‐7. Age at injury and parental education were not associated with memory outcome. Conclusions: Memory functioning is variable but often strongly impaired several years after severe paediatric TBI, and is mostly related to injury severity, functional outcomes measured 1 year post‐injury, and concomitant cognitive and educational outcomes. GMS‐7 was lower at 7 years than one year post‐injury, supporting the importance of long term follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : There are few standardized measures available to assess executive function (EF) in a naturalistic setting for children. The Children's Cooking Task (CCT) is a complex test that has been specifically developed to assess EF in a standardized open-ended environment (cooking). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, sensitivity and specificity, and also convergent and divergent validity of the Norwegian version of CCT among children with pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (pABI) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods : The present study has a cross-sectional design, based on baseline data derived from a multicenter RCT. Seventy-five children with pABI from two university hospitals with parent-reported executive dysfunction and minimum of 12 months since injury/completed cancer therapy, as well as 59 HCs aged 10–17 years, were assessed with CCT using total errors as the main outcome measure. The pABI group completed tests assessing EF (i.e., inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and planning) on the impairment level within the ICF framework (performance-based neuropsychological tests and the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children), and on the participation level (questionnaires). In addition, they completed tests of intellectual ability, processing speed, attention, learning, and memory. Finally, overall functional outcome (pediatric Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended) was evaluated for the children with pABI. Results : Acceptable internal consistency and good inter-rater reliability were found for the CCT. Children with pABI performed significantly worse on the CCT than the HCs. The CCT identified group membership, but the sensitivity and specificity were overall classified as poor. Convergent validity was demonstrated by associations between the CCT and performance-based tests assessing inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory, as well as teacher-reported executive dysfunction (questionnaires). Divergent validity was supported by the lack of association with performance-based measures of learning and memory, attention, and verbal intellectual ability. However, there was a moderate association between the CCT and performance-based tests of processing speed. Lastly, better performance on the CCT was associated with a better functional outcome. Conclusion : Our study with a relatively large sample of children with pABI and HC's demonstrated good psychometric properties of the CCT. CCT performance was associated with the overall level of disability and function, suggesting that CCT is related to the level of activity in everyday life and participation in society. Hence, our study suggests that the CCT has the potential to advance the assessment of EF by providing a valid analysis of real-world performance. Nevertheless, further research is needed on larger samples, focusing on predictors of task performance, and evaluating the ability of CCT to detect improvement in EF over time. The patterns of error and problem-solving strategies evaluated by the CCT could be used to inform neuropsychological rehabilitation treatmentand represent a more valid outcome measure of rehabilitation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Participation in home, school and community activities is considered as the ultimate aim of rehabilitation. The aims of this study were to examine participation seven years post-severe childhood traumatic brain injury and factors associated with participation. Materials and methods: Participants were enrolled in the Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant (Severe Childhood Injury) cohort study following severe accidental childhood traumatic brain injury. Participation seven years post-injury, was examined using parent- and self-report forms of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation among 37 patients [62% males, mean age 15.4 years (SD = 4.4), mean length of coma 6.68 days (SD = 4.96)] and 33 matched controls. Results: Parent reports indicated significantly lower participation among patients compared to controls, but the self-reports did not. In the traumatic brain injury group, parent-reported participation was variable, with 22% of the patients clearly showing greater restrictions than controls. Participation restrictions were significantly associated with injury severity, poor functional outcome one-year post-injury, executive and behavioral difficulties and higher fatigue levels seven years post-injury, but not with pre-injury nor family factors. Conclusions: Several years after severe childhood traumatic brain injury, participation appears to depend more on injury-related factors than on environmental factors. In self-reports assessments of participation, it could be difficult for children and adolescents to distinguish capacity from performance. Participation outcomes were highly variable in a sample of patients who sustained severe childhood traumatic brain injury. Participation should be assessed systematically following severe traumatic brain injury, both initially but also in the long-term, ideally using a combination of self- and proxy-report measures. Among patients with severe injuries, the influence of initial brain injury severity markers on participation seems much stronger than that of social/family environment factors. Children's and adolescents' self-reported participation assessed with the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation may be difficult to interpret. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate presence of and factors associated with self- and parent-reported fatigue 7 years after severe childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the prospective longitudinal study TGE (Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant-severe childhood trauma). Methods: Self-reports and/or parent reports on the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale were collected for 38 participants (aged 7-22 years) 7 years after severe childhood TBI, and 33 controls matched for age, gender, and parental educational level. The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, age at injury and injury severity scores, overall disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended), intellectual outcome (Wechsler scales), and questionnaires assessing executive functions, health-related quality of life, behavior, and participation. Results: Fatigue levels were significantly worse in the TBI than in the control group, especially for cognitive fatigue. Correlations of reported fatigue with age at injury, gender, TBI severity, and intellectual ability were moderate and often not significant. Fatigue was significantly associated with overall level of disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended) and with all questionnaires completed by the same informant. Conclusion: High levels of fatigue were reported by 30% to 50% of patients 7 years after a severe childhood TBI. Reported fatigue explained more than 60% of the variance of reported health-related quality of life by the same informant (patient or parent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate self- and parent-reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) and their associations after severe childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant (TGE) cohort.Methods: Self- (n = 34) and/or parent-reports (n = 25) of HRQoL were collected for 38 participants (age 7-22 years) 7 years after severe childhood TBI. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, injury severity indices, and overall disability and functional outcome at 3-months, 1- and 2-years post-injury. At 7-years post-injury, data were collected in the TBI group and in a control group (n = 33): overall disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended), intellectual ability (IQ), and questionnaires assessing HRQoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), executive functions (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions), behavior (Child Behavior Checklist), fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale) and participation (Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation).Results: Parent- and self-reports of HRQoL were significantly lower in the TBI group than in the control group. Parent-rated HRQoL was not associated with objectively assessed factors, whereas self-reported HRQoL was associated with gender (worse in females) and initial functional outcome. All questionnaire scores completed by the same informant (self or parent) were strongly inter-correlated.Conclusions: Reported HRQoL 7-years after severe childhood TBI is low compared to controls, weakly or not-related to objective factors, such as injury severity indices, clinically assessed functional outcomes, or IQ, but strongly related to reports by the same informant of executive deficits, behavior problems, fatigue, and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were (1) to prospectively measure memory functioning following severe childhood Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and its evolution over 2 years; (2) to assess demographic and medical factors associated with memory function and recovery; (3) to explore relations between memory and other TBI outcomes. Methods: Children (aged 0–15 years; n= 65) consecutively admitted in a single trauma center over a 3-year period, who survived severe non-inflicted TBI, were included in a prospective longitudinal study. Memory was assessed in 38 children aged 5–15 years at injury, using the Children's Memory Scale at 3, 12, and 24 months post-injury. Results: Mean general memory score was low at 3 months (M = 90.2, SD = 20.3) but within the normal range at 12 and 24 months (M = 100.6, SD = 23.1 and M = 108.6, SD = 24.1, respectively), with high variability. Improvement was stronger for immediate visual memory than for other memory indices. Lower general memory score was associated with higher injury severity, lower intellectual ability and functional status, higher overall disability, and ongoing education. Conclusion: Memory functioning is highly variable following severe childhood TBI, related to injury severity and functional, cognitive and educational outcomes; improvement is significant during the first-year post-injury, but varies according to the type of memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes in terms of oral language, intellectual ability, education, following very early moderate-to-severe TBI. Methods: Children who had been hospitalized in rehabilitation after moderate-to-severe TBI sustained before 18 months of age were contacted once they had reached school age. Detailed oral language and intellectual ability assessment were performed, and information on ongoing education was collected. Results: 52 children met inclusion criteria; 21 (40.4%) participated [13 males, mean age 7.5 years (SD = 1.9), age at injury 0.7 years (SD = 0.5), time since injury 6.8 years (SD = 1.8)]. Performance was in the clinical range (<-2SD) for: syntactic comprehension (67%; mean z-scores −2.6; SD = 3.1), syntactic expression (62%; −2.1; SD = 1.3), lexical stock extent (57%; −1.5; SD = 1.5), lexical access skills (48%; −1.9; SD = 2), and semantic organization (32%; −0.9; SD = 1.2). Full-scale IQ was <90 for 91%. Only eight children followed mainstream education without adaptations. Performance on all language tests (except lexical stock extent) was significantly poorer for children with a personal school aid or those in specialized education. Conclusions: Early moderate-to-severe TBI causes significant delayed language (especially syntactic aspects of language) and cognitive disabilities, with consequences on long-term educational outcome. These children require long-term follow-up and timely interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate intellectual and situation-based social outcome and educational achievement in adult survivors of childhood medulloblastoma and analyse factors influencing outcome Methods: We collected demographic, medical and cognitive data, and social and educational outcome at a mean time since the end of treatments of 14.9 years in 58 adults, aged 19-35 years, consecutively treated in a single cancer center between 1989 and 2005. Results: Ten survivors had severe intellectual disability, 12 were still studying, 23 had a regular employment and 13 were unemployed. Full Scale Intellectual Quotient, assessed 6.6 years after the end of treatments, ranged from 46 to 131. It was strongly associated with educational achievement and significantly lower in patients who experienced postoperative cerebellar mutism, and when parental education level was low. Conclusion: These factors should be systematically considered at diagnosis in order to offer adequate and timely assessments and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe dysexecutive symptoms in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF); to compare parent- and teacher-ratings, to analyze the differential impairment in the BRIEF subscales, and factors influencing outcome. Participants: Children aged 5 to 18 years 11 months, referred to a rehabilitation department following TBI. Outcome Measures: Parent- and teacher reports of the BRIEF. Results: A total of 194 patients participated in the study: mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 12), severe (n = 169); mean 4.92 (standard deviation = 3.94) years post-injury. According to parent ratings (n = 193), all BRIEF subscales and indices were significantly elevated (23.8%-48% in the clinical range). The Working Memory subscale score was significantly higher than all other subscales. Results of teacher ratings (n = 28) indicated similar significantly elevated scores in all subscales (39.3%-57.2% in the clinical range). No significant difference was found between parent and teacher ratings, which were significantly correlated. Regression analyses indicated that, in children with severe TBI, parental BRIEF overall and metacognition indices were significantly predicted by younger age at injury and older age at assessment, whereas no significant predictor of behavioral regulation index was identified. Discussion and Conclusion: This study highlights significant executive dysfunction in everyday life several years after childhood TBI, evident in home and school environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Executive function (EF) impairment is a major predictor of overall outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI severity is a factor of poor outcome, but most studies include a majority of children with mild and moderate TBI. The aims of this study were to estimate EF impairment after severe childhood TBI and to explore factors predicting EF outcome. The secondary aim was to compare recovery trajectories by age-at-injury groups. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal study of children with severe TBI who were tested for EFs by performance-based tests and questionnaires at 3, 12 and 24 months. Results Children with TBI ( n = 65) showed significant impairment in working memory, inhibition, attention and global EF, with little or no recovery at 24 months. For flexibility and performance-based EF score, children were impaired at 3 months only and showed normal scores by 12 months. No impairment was found in planning. At 3 and 24 months, Glasgow Coma Scale score and parental education predicted global EF. Coma length was not a significant predictor of outcome. Age at injury predicted progress in EF, but the relationship was not linear; children 10–12 years old at injury showed better outcome than older and younger children. Conclusions EFs are impaired after severe TBI in childhood. The relationship between age at injury and outcome is not linear. Relying on only performance-based EF tests can underestimate EF impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood acquired brain injury (ABI) often leads to impairment in cognitive functioning, resulting in disabilities in both the home and school environment. Assessing the impact of these cognitive deficits in everyday life using traditional neuropsychological tests has been challenging. This study systematically reviewed ecological measures of cognitive abilities available for children with ABI. Method: Eight databases were searched (until October 2011) for scales: (1) focused on ecological assessment of cognitive functioning; (2) with published data in an ABI population; (3) applicable to children up to 17;11 years of age; and (4) in English. The title and abstract of all papers were reviewed independently by two reviewers. Results: Database searches yielded a total of 12 504 references, of which 17 scales met the inclusion criteria for the review, focusing on executive functions ( n = 9), memory ( n = 3), general cognitive abilities ( n = 2), visuo-spatial skills ( n = 2) and attention ( n = 1). Four tasks used observation of actual performance in a natural environment, five were proxy-reports and six were functional paper and pencil type tasks, performed in an office. Conclusion: Overall, few measures were found; eight were still experimental tasks which did not provide norms. Executive functions were better represented in ecological assessment, with relatively more standardized scales available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to executive functions deficits, which may be responsible for severe and longstanding disabilities in everyday activities. Sensitivity and ecological validity of neuropsychological tests of executive functions have been questioned. The aims of this study were to pilot an ecological open-ended assessment of executive functions in children, the ‘Children's Cooking Task’ (CCT), specifically to report its reliability, discriminant validity and concurrent validity. Methods: Twenty-five children with mild ( n = 10) or moderate-to-severe TBI ( n = 15), and 21 matched controls (aged 8 to 20 years) participated in the study. An open-ended cooking task was designed to test multi-tasking abilities. It required the preparation of two simple recipes using specific instructions. Outcome measures included the number of errors and an overall qualitative analysis of the task. Validating measures of executive functions included the Delis Kaplan Executive Function System, the Six-Part Test and two questionnaires completed by the child's primary care-giver: the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children. Results: Internal consistency of the Children's Cooking Task was high (Cronbach's alpha = .86), as was test–retest reliability (ICC = .89). Children with moderate-to-severe TBI, as well as children with mild TBI made significantly more errors in the Children's Cooking Task in comparison to controls ( p < .001). The CCT was correlated with several tests and one questionnaire of executive functioning (Trails, verbal fluency, sorting, 20 questions, Dysexecutive Questionnaire). Discussion and Conclusion: The Children's Cooking Task has good interrater and test–retest reliability, as well as good discriminant and concurrent validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to executive functions (EF) deficits, resulting in severe longstanding disabilities in daily life activities. The sensitivity and ecological validity of neuropsychological tests have been questioned. The aim of this study was to pilot a novel open-ended naturalistic task and to compare it to other standardized assessments of EF in children post-TBI. Methods: Ten children aged 8-14, with moderate-to-severe TBI, and 18 matched controls participated in the study. The clinical group was assessed using cognitive tests and parent-based questionnaires of EF. An interactive ecological cooking task was designed. Results: Analyses indicated mild-to-moderate executive deficits in the cognitive tests in approximately half of the TBI group. For the experimental cooking task, all quantitative and qualitative variables were significantly impaired for the TBI group compared to the control group and failure in the cooking task was associated with lower scores in cognitive tests of EF. The task was able to discriminate the TBI children from the control group. Conclusion: This pilot study highlights the role of naturalistic assessments, to complement standardized tests in assessing patients' dysexecutive impairments in complex activities of daily living post-childhood TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Studies on language outcome following childhood stroke are rare. The aims of this study were to study language, cognitive and school outcomes following childhood stroke. Materials/patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the files of children (1 month–15 years) consecutively admitted to a physical medicine and rehabilitation department following childhood stroke between 1992 and 2015. Age at onset, aetiology, lesion laterality, initial severity, motor and functional impairments upon admission and discharge, language tests, neuropsychological assessment (or developmental age/quotient) and academic outcome were collected. Results Over the study period, 184 children were hospitalised following ischemic ( n = 79) or hemorrhagic ( n = 105) stroke. Upon admission, after a median time since stroke of 22 days, 89% of the children had motor impairment and 42% were not able to walk. Upon discharge (median 6 months post-stroke), 25% could still not walk independently and 42% could not use their hand. Neuropsychological assessment performed after a median time since stroke of 4 months indicated severe impairment: n = 135 [m (SD)]: full scale IQ 85 (19), verbal IQ 93 (22), performance IQ 85 (20), working memory index 87 (18), processing speed index 79 (18). Language tests performed after a median time since stroke of 3 months also revealed severe impairment ( n = 130). The 4 language skills tested (receptive and expressive, semantic and syntax) were impaired, especially word finding (median SD = –2). Overall, significant impairment was found (scores < –2SD) in 26% of children for lexical extent, 53% for word finding, 38% for syntactic comprehension and 47% for syntactic expression. For 19 children who were under the age of three at assessment, mean developmental quotient was 57 (SD = 23) for the total score and 65 (SD = 24) for the language subscale. Language and verbal IQ were significantly lower ( p < 0.01) in patients with left-hemisphere lesion than in those with right-hemisphere lesions. After a median follow up of 40 months, only 34% of the children were following normal curriculum without adaptations or delay and 28% were attending special education programs. School outcome was highly correlated to language and IQ ( p < 0.0001). Discussion/conclusion Childhood stroke leads to severe language and cognitive impairments, with negative and long lasting consequences on academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the first cause of death and acquired disability and it represents a major public health issue. Childhood severe TBI can lead to motor, cognitive, behavioural and social cognition deficits, which have consequences on academic achievement, social integration, participation and quality of life. Consequences may only appear after a delay, when the skills are supposed to be fully developed. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess academic outcome, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), amount of ongoing care and participation, following childhood severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) over 7–8 years post-injury, in comparison with a matched uninjured control group. Material/patients and methods Sixty-five children, aged 0–15 years, consecutively admitted in a single trauma center over a 3-year period for severe non-inflicted TBI were included in a prospective longitudinal study. At 7-8 years, they were compared with a matched control group regarding schooling modalities, amount of ongoing care, and standardized questionnaires of HRQoL (PedsQL, including fatigue module), and participation (Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation – CASP). Family socio-economic status (SES) was assessed by parental education level. Results After a mean delay of 7.7 years, 39 patients participated in the study (60% of the initial sample; 66% boys; mean coma duration: 6.6 days; SD = 4.83; mean age at injury: 7.6 years, SD = 4.72; mean age at assessment: 15.3 years, SD = 4.46, range 7.2–22.2), with no significant differences between participants and non-participants regarding demographic and severity factors, or initial intellectual ability). Only 62% of the TBI group was attending mainstream education (as opposed to 100% of controls). The amount of ongoing rehabilitation was high (35.3% speech-language therapy, 26.4% occupational therapy; 17.6% physiotherapy). Self-reported HRQoL was significantly lower in the TBI than in the control group [71.1; 95% IC 64.8–77.5 versus 83.9; 95% IC 79.3–88.4; P = 0.0026], including the fatigue module [61.1; 95% IC 54.6–67.5 versus 77.4; 95% IC 71.9–82.8; P = 0.0005]. Parent ratings of participation were relatively good but significantly lower than those of controls [86.4; 95% IC 81.4–91.3 versus 96.3; 95% IC 94.6–98.1; P = 0.0002]. Discussion–conclusion Severe childhood TBI leads to severe and long-standing impairments, evident several years post-injury, with consequences on school integration, independence, participation and HRQOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to long-standing executive function and attention deficits, with negative consequences for participation, academic outcome and independence. This study aimed to assess executive function and attention 7 years after severe childhood TBI in comparison with a matched control group and to investigate associated factors. Children (< 15 years) with severe accidental TBI consecutively admitted in a single trauma center over 3 years were included in the Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant (TGE) prospective longitudinal study. Of the 81 children initially included, 65 survived. At 7 years post-TBI, executive functions and attention were assessed in 27 participants (42 % of the 65 survivors) by using a combination of computerized tasks from the Test of Attentional Performance (TAP) and the Behavioral Rating of Executive Functions (BRIEF) questionnaire. Patients were compared to a group of 27 typically developing controls who were matched for sex, age and parental education level. Among the 27 participants, mean (SD) age at injury was 7.7 (4.6) years, and mean length of coma 5.6 (4.6) days. Regarding the TAP, the number of errors was significantly higher (P = 0.003) and reaction time marginally slower (P = 0.08) in the TBI than control group. The BRIEF questionnaire completed by parents indicated significantly more executive difficulties in the TBI than control group (Behavior Regulation Index, P = 0.005; Metacognitive index, P = 0.02; Global Executive Composite, P = 0.012). Correlations between BRIEF and TAP scores did not reach statistical significance. BRIEF total score was correlated moderately with length of coma (r = 0.40, P = 0.037), and TAP scores were correlated with the Full-Scale Intellectual Quotient (total number of errors: r = -0.48; P = 0.01; mean reaction time: r = −0.51; P = 0.009). Executive and attention deficits were evident 7 years after severe childhood TBI. Computerized tasks and questionnaires provide complementary and non-redundant information. Systematic long-term follow-up should be provided until the transition to adulthood, to assess ongoing development and to implement timely tailored interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Childhood severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a long-term impact on morbidity and functional deficits. • About 50% of childhood severe TBI survivors exhibit substantial disability at 7 years after severe TBI. • Socio-behavioural and cognitive deficits are the most common long-lasting sequelae. • Long-term outcome is poorly predicted by early clinical factors / injury severity. • Functional impairments at 1 year after TBI strongly predicts disability at 7 years. Childhood severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-lasting acquired disability, but predicting long-term functional outcome remains difficult. This study aimed to 1) describe the functional outcome at 1 and 7 years post-TBI; 2) determine the initial and concurrent factors associated with long-term outcome; and 3) evaluate the predictive value of functional status, overall disability level and intellectual ability measured at 1 year post-injury to determine 7-year clinically meaningful outcomes. Among the children (<16 years) consecutively included over 3 years in the Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant (TGE) prospective longitudinal cohort study after accidental severe TBI, we studied the outcomes of 39 survivors at 1 and 7 years post-injury. Overall outcome included disability level (Glasgow Outcome Scale), functional status (Pediatric Injury Functional Outcome Scale), intellectual ability (Wechsler scales), executive functions (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions), behavior (Child Behavior Checklist) as well as neurological impairments and academic status. Mean (SD) age of the 39 survivors at injury was 7.6 (4.6) years, and long-term evaluation was conducted at a mean of 7.8 years post-injury (range 5.9–9.3); 36% of participants were adults (≥18 years old). Most of the neurological impairments remained stable beyond 1 year after TBI, whereas overall disability level improved significantly from 1 to 7 years but remained highly variable, with almost half of participants presenting significant disability levels (moderate: 26%, or severe: 21%). Almost half of participants had significant cognitive, behavior and/or academic difficulties at 7 years post-TBI. On multivariate regression analysis, functional impairment at 1 year was the best predictor of severe disability at 7 years (F (3,31) =13.18, p < 0.001, sensitivity=100%, specificity=78%). Our results confirm the significant long-term impact of childhood severe TBI. All children with TBI should benefit from systematic follow-up, especially those with persistent functional deficits at 1 year post-injury, because the severity of functional impairment at 1 year seems the best predictor of long-term significant disability up to 7 years post-TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Abundant theta and alpha band rhythms in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep represent a suggestive EEG pattern of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in pediatric patients. [•] Preserved background activity over at least one hemisphere in the awake state and in sleep were correlated with milder clinical expression. [•] The disruption of NMDA neurotransmission may lead to decrease of the slow waves component in the NREM sleep. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is a feasible intervention with children with executive function (EF) deficits after acquired brain injury (ABI). • Children improved their occupational performance in their selected goals with CO-OP. • Significant improvement was found on a questionnaire reflecting EF in everyday life. • Significant improvement was found on tests of EF. Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) often have cognitive and behavioral impairments that affect participation in everyday activities. Among them, executive function (EF) deficits are frequent. Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is an individualized treatment that teaches cognitive strategies necessary to support successful performance. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of CO-OP in children with EF deficits after ABI. Objectives: to assess whether the use of CO-OP could be of interest in children with EF deficits after ABI, to improve their occupational performance, their executive functioning in everyday life and their cognitive processes constituting EF. Methods. This was a single case experimental study with multiple baselines across individuals and behaviors. We included 2 children at least 6 months after severe ABI. The children received 14 individual sessions of the CO-OP intervention. Each child set 3 goals by using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure; 2 goals were trained and the third was a control goal. The achievement of the goals was measured by using repeated measures of Goal Attainment Scales (GASs). Ecological assessments of EF included the Children's Cooking Task and parent and teacher ratings of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire. Results: both children improved their performance on both trained goals (and, to a lesser extent, on untrained goals). We found significant improvement on tests of EF and on the BRIEF questionnaire, reflecting executive functioning in everyday life, at home and at school. Conclusions: these results are encouraging and suggest the feasibility and effectiveness of CO-OP for children with EF deficits after ABI. They should be replicated in a larger number of cases. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04718688). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Childhood severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a long-term impact on morbidity and functional deficits. • Up to 80% of children presented significant disability at 2 years post-TBI. • Socio-behavioural and cognitive deficits were the most common long-lasting sequelae. • Functional outcome at 2 years post-TBI was highly predicted by injury severity. • Multimodal assessment and follow-up could improve interventions and outcomes. Childhood severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-lasting acquired disability, but little is known about functional outcome. We aimed to 1) study clinical recovery and functional outcome over 24 months after severe childhood TBI, 2) identify early sociodemographic and severity factors influencing outcome, and 3) examine the clinical utility of the Pediatric Injury Functional Outcome Scale (PIFOS) to assess functional outcome. Children (0-15 years) consecutively admitted in a trauma centre after accidental severe TBI over 3 years were included in a prospective longitudinal study (Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant cohort). We measured clinical/neurological recovery, functional status (Pediatric Injury Functional Outcome Scale, [PIFOS]), overall disability (pediatric Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS-Peds]) as well as intellectual ability (Wechsler scales) and educational outcome (mainstream school vs special education) of survivors at 1, 3, 12 and 24 months post-injury. For 45 children (aged 3 to 15 years at injury), functional impairments were severe within the first 3 months. Despite the initial rapid clinical recovery and significant improvement over the first year, substantial alterations persisted for most children at 12 months post-TBI, with no significant improvement up to 2 years. Up to 80% of children still had moderate or severe overall disability (GOS-Peds) at 24 months. The severity of functional impairments (PIFOS) at 12 and 24 months was mostly related to socio-emotional, cognitive and physical impairments, and was significantly correlated with clinical/neurological deficits and cognitive (intellectual, executive) and behavioural disorders. Initial TBI severity was the main prognostic factor associated with functional status over the first 2 years post-injury. Our results confirm the significant impact of severe childhood TBI on short- and medium-term functional outcomes and overall disability. All patients should benefit from systematic follow-up. The PIFOS appeared to be an accurate and reliable tool to assess functional impairment evolution and clinically meaningful outcomes over the first 2 years post-injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]