http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9846-8514
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Abstract
Background: There is a limited literature investigating the long-term impact of traumatic brain injury sustained in childhood that compares injury severity with educational attainment, employment, material standard of living, or receipt of government benefits in adulthood.
Method: A total of 161 participants who sustained an injury prior to age 18 years, aged between 18 and 30 years, and averaged 13.7 years postinjury. Injuries were mild traumatic brain injury (n = 57), moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (n = 62), and orthopedic injury control group (n = 42).
Results: Using a semi-structured interview, with the exception of employment outcomes, adult survivors of childhood traumatic brain injury had poorer outcomes across all domains assessed relative to the other injury control group, with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury having worse outcomes than those with mild traumatic brain injury.
Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicate that there is a greater need to consider the long-term impact of traumatic brain injury sustained in childhood, with injury severity impacting several psychosocial domains in adulthood, including education, material standard of living, and benefit recipiency.
Adult outcomes of childhood are influenced by initial injury severity, with those with mild traumatic brain injury having predominantly good outcomes, while those with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury having poorer outcomes in all areas of adult functioning evaluated.
Childhood traumatic brain injury is associated with reduced educational attainment in adolescence and adulthood.
A young person with traumatic brain injury requires support within the education system to improve educational attainment.
A history of traumatic brain injury in childhood is associated with a reduced standard of living in adulthood.
Adults with a history of moderate/severe traumatic brain injury in childhood are more likely to be recipients of government benefits in adulthood, and rehabilitation input may be needed to assist individuals with traumatic brain injury to maintain employment and reduce benefit use.