Social function changes in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation.

Abstract

To examine changes in social function capabilities between and within groups of children with six subtypes of acquired brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) Social Functional Skills Scale was administered to 139 children with acquired brain injury (mean age=9.28 years; SD = 5.27). Scaled summary score changes from hospital admission to discharge for the total group and six diagnostic sub-groups were calculated. One-way ANOVAs were performed for the total group and six sub-groups to determine between group differences in amount of change. Within-group changes were examined by paired t-tests, effect sizes and the proportion of children who made a clinically meaningful change (> or = 10 points). Children with traumatic brain injury demonstrated the greatest amount of change during inpatient rehabilitation, but only significantly greater than children with seizures. Scores were significantly higher at discharge for the total group (p < 0.001) and all sub-groups except for the anoxia group. Forty-five per cent of all children made clinically meaningful changes. Children with acquired brain injury made significant changes in social functioning from admission to discharge. Varying degrees of change existed for diagnostic sub-groups. Further research is needed to examine clinically meaningful changes and in which areas of social functioning children are changing during inpatient rehabilitation.