Neuropsychological benefits of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (using FORAMENRehab program) in children with mild traumatic brain injury or partial epilepsy: A pilot study

Issue title: Emerging Data in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Guest editors: Stacy Suskauer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kaldoja, Mari-Liis^{a; b; c} | Saard, Marianne^{b; d; e} | Lange, Kirsi^e | Raud, Triin^b | Teeveer, Ott-Kaarel^f | Kolk, Anneli^{d; e; *}

Affiliations: [a] Psychiatry Clinic, Tallinn Children's Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia | [b] Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia | [c] Institute of Psychology, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia | [d] Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Children's Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia | [e] Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia | [f] Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Anneli Kolk, Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Children's Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, N. Lunini 6, EE-51014 Tartu, Estonia. Tel.: +372 5065 862; E-mail:anneli.kolk@kliinikum.ee

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The number of children with different cognitive difficulties is constantly increasing. Still, too few evidence-based pediatric neurocognitive rehabilitation programs exist. The main aim of the study was to assess the efficiency and usability of computer-assisted FORAMENRehab program for training specific components of attention in children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and partial epilepsy (PE). The second aim was to specify short- and long-term effects of the intervention. METHODS: Eight children between the ages of 9-12 years with attention impairment (3 with PE and 5 with mTBI) and 18 healthy controls participated. FORAMENRehab Attention software, adapted by the authors, was used for intervention. Strict intervention protocol consisting of patients completing 10 sessions over a 6-week-period to train four components of attention (sustaining, focusing, dividing, tracking) was designed and applied. Follow-up assessments were conducted after the end of the last training and 1.63 years later. RESULTS: After the intervention patients' sustained and complex attention improved. Long-term follow-up revealed continuing positive rehabilitation effects. 100% compliance suggested that the used method is attractive for children. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results of the pilot study give reason to presume that the method is effective in attention impairment remediation. However, more thorough research is needed.

Keywords: Pediatric rehabilitation, computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation, attention impairment, epilepsy, mild traumatic brain injury, FORAMENRehab

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-150346

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 271-283, 2015