Childhood sequelae of early neurological disorders: A contemporary perspective

Abstract

This article reviews developmental consequences of brain injury sustained early in life, with special emphasis on deficits that characterize nonretarded braindamaged children. Recent findings are consistent with previous, more clinically based observations, which suggest that the greatest impairments are on tasks of visuomotor skill, problem solving, memory and learning, and psychomotor and mental efficiency. Tasks requiring uncomplicated and possibly over‐practiced verbal responses appear to be least compromised. Although general intelligence is also affected, global IQ scores shed little light on the nature of the impairment. Recent findings also suggest that both the severity of neurological insult and the child's premorbid status must be considered in predicting outcomes. Further research in this area is needed to investigate the nature and significance of the cognitive sequelae of early brain injury, to explore age differences in these sequelae, and to study medical and psychosocial factors that contribute to risk.