Metaphoric Comprehension in Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injury and in Adolescents With Language Learning Disability

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare comprehension of figurative language in the form of metaphors between adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and adolescents with language learning disability (LLD). The metaphoric comprehension subtest of the Test of Language Competence (Wiig & Secord, 1985) was administered to adolescents and young adults with TBI, to those with LLD, and to subjects without TBI and LLD (normal subjects). The results indicated that the subjects with TBI comprehended metaphors little differently than did the normal subjects. The subjects with LLD, in contrast, demonstrated significantly poorer comprehension of metaphors than both the normal subjects and subjects with TBI. These results are discussed in relation to appropriate special education needs and placement of the student with TBI.