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What About the Little Ones? Systematic Review of Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes Following Early TBI

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Abstract

There is increasing empirical focus on the effects of early traumatic brain injuries (TBI; i.e., before the age of six years) on child development, but this literature has never been synthetized comprehensively. This systematic review aimed to document the cognitive, academic, behavioral, socio-affective, and adaptive consequences of early TBI. Four databases (Medline, PsycNET, CINAHL, PubMed) were systematically searched from 1990 to 2019 using key terms pertaining to TBI and early childhood. Of 12, 153 articles identified in the initial search, 43 were included. Children who sustain early TBI are at-risk for a range of difficulties, which are generally worse when injury is sustained at a younger age, injury severity is moderate to severe, and injury mechanisms are non-accidental. Early childhood is a sensitive period for the emergence and development of new skills and behaviors, and brain disruption during this time is not benign. Research, clinical management, intervention, and prevention efforts should be further developed with consideration of the unique characteristics of the early childhood period.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dominic Desaulniers and Cléa Girard for technical support during the project.

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Conceptualization and idea: Miriam H. Beauchamp and Marilou Séguin; Data collection and analysis: Marilou Séguin, Charlotte Gagner, Carola Tuerk, Jessica Lacombe Barrios and Pascale MacKay. Writing—original draft preparation, review and editing: Marilou Séguin and Miriam H. Beauchamp; Funding acquisition: Miriam H. Beauchamp; Supervision: Miriam H. Beauchamp. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to M. H. Beauchamp.

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Séguin, M., Gagner, C., Tuerk, C. et al. What About the Little Ones? Systematic Review of Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes Following Early TBI. Neuropsychol Rev 32, 906–936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09517-0

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