Putting the person in person-centered care: Stakeholder experiences in pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: This pilot study sought to describe the perspectives and experiences of survivors of pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI), their caregivers, and the medical professionals who serve them.

Methods: Thirteen people participated in semi-structured interviews: five survivors of pTBI, their primary caregivers, and three medical professionals who work with persons who have sustained pTBI. The study involved a prospective, qualitative, participatory action research model with convenience sampling.

A clinically focused systematic review of social communication in pediatric TBI.

Background: Social communication is a persistent area of need after pediatric traumatic brain injury; however, it continues to be misunderstood, under-recognized, and under-treated. Clinicians must have a working understanding of current evidence and practice recommendations to support practice.

Objectives: 1) To analyze recent evidence in social communication published in the last ten years, which is specific to pediatric TBI and 2) To translate these findings for clinicians.

Referral Patterns as a Contextual Variable in Pediatric Brain Injury: A Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: Access to speech-language pathology (SLP) services is a critical variable in the rehabilitation of pediatric brain injury. In this study, we examined patterns of SLP referral and factors affecting referral during the acute period following brain injury in 2 large pediatric specialty hospitals.

Method: In a retrospective, cohort chart review study, data collection focused on referrals made during the acute period using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for primary diagnoses of brain injury between 2007 and 2014 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014).

Identification of neurodevelopmental disabilities in underserved children using telehealth (INvesT): Clinical trial study design.

Background: Children living in poverty are at high risk for delays in development of language and behavior and they experience a discrepancy in diagnosis and access to intervention services. This gap is partially caused by barriers in access as well as traits that are specific to each child and family. The Identification of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Underserved Children using Telehealth (INvesT) trial is a novel intervention approach that was specifically designed to address these barriers.

Role of contextual factors in the rehabilitation of adolescent survivors of traumatic brain injury: emerging concepts identified through modified narrative review.

Background: Recently research in traumatic brain injury (TBI) intervention has identified the benefits of contextualized, embedded, functionally based approaches to maximize treatment outcomes. An essential component of contextualized intervention is the direct and purposeful consideration of the broader context, in which the person with TBI functions. However, systematic consideration of contextual factors remains limited both in research and clinical practice.

Improving the access of young urban children to speech, language and hearing screening via telehealth.

We studied the feasibility of low-cost videoconferencing (using Skype) in urban community health clinics for speech, language and hearing screening of children up to six years of age. During a two-year study, screening services were provided via videoconferencing at two community clinics in an inner city area of Cleveland, Ohio. In total, 411 screenings were completed.

Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Developments: Implications for Clinical Assessment in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Adolescence is a time of significant physical, social, and emotional developments, accompanied by changes in cognitive and language skills. Underlying these are significant developments in brain structures and functions including changes in cortical and subcortical gray matter and white matter tracts. Among the brain regions that develop during adolescence are areas that are commonly damaged as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).