Initial Validation of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity With Adolescents With ABI.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity Middle/High School (WCPA) in adolescents with acquired brain injuries (ABI). We recruited neurotypical controls (n = 27) and adolescents with ABI (n = 14) to complete a 90-min battery of cognitive tests. Adolescents with ABI were further divided into mild and severe groups by Glasgow Coma Scale Score and compared with controls. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant differences (p = .05) on the WCPA between groups in total time to complete and rules followed. Between the controls and severe group, a significant difference (p = .05) was found for total time spent, errors, rules followed, strategies used, and accurate appointments (p = .01). Moderate correlations were found between the WCPA and neuropsychological tests (ρ = .31-.45). The WCPA is a valid performance-based assessment of functional cognition that can be used to detect deficits in adolescents with severe ABI.