Consonant accuracy after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury: a prospective cohort study

PurposeThe authors sought to describe longitudinal changes in Percentage of Consonants Correct—Revised (PCC–R) after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), to compare the odds of normal-range PCC–R in children injured at older and younger ages, and to correlate predictor variables and PCC–R outcomes.MethodIn 56 children injured between age 1 month and 11 years, PCC–R was calculated over 12 monthly sessions beginning when the child produced ≥ 10 words. At each session, the authors compared odds of normal-range PCC–R in children injured at younger (≤ 60 months) and older (> 60 months) ages. Correlations were calculated between final PCC–R and age at injury, injury mechanism, gender, maternal education, residence, treatment, Glasgow Coma Score, and intact brain volume.ResultsPCC–Rs varied within and between children. Odds of normal-range PCC–R were significantly higher for the older than for the younger group at all sessions but the first; odds of normal-range PCC–R were 9 to 33 times higher in the older group in sessions 3 to 12. Age at injury was significantly correlated with final PCC–R.ConclusionOver a 12-month period, severe TBI had more adverse effects for children whose ages placed them in the most intensive phase of PCC–R development than for children injured later.