Transforming TBI Management for Youth: Beyond Acute to Advancing Function in the Long Term
CHAIR
PRESENTERS
DESCRIPTION
Organized by the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society (IPBIS)
The primary objective of rehabilitation is to improve functional outcomes, such that learned skills translate to optimal activity, participation, and quality of life across the lifespan. When it comes to assessment and treatment of cognitive deficits after brain injury, there has been a longstanding concern regarding the generalizability of traditional approaches used in the clinic or laboratory to real-world functioning upon reintegration to home, educational/vocational, and community contexts. This concern is particularly relevant for children/adolescents with brain injury, who often have a variety of cognitive deficits and dynamic needs across the continuum of recovery—due to ongoing development and increasing cognitive demands—that make generalization of skills from one context to another even more challenging.The goal of this pre-conference program is to describe some of the newly emerging state-of-the-science, evidence-based procedures for assessment and treatment of later-emerging cognitive deficits after pediatric brain injury. Our presentations will focus on novel approaches, such as strategy-based reasoning training, and use of new technologies-including telemedicine and virtual reality platforms-that offer promise in the monitoring and remediation of real-life challenges for youth with brain injury in the longer term. An emphasis will be placed on forward-thinking applications to maximize learning potential and higher-order cognitive skills (e.g., executive functioning, social cognition, etc.) beyond the acute stage of recovery, with potential to transform current practices to significantly improve long-term function and life productivity, including practical evidence-based tips as well as opportunities for questions and group discussion.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify the current limitations regarding generalization of traditional clinic and laboratory rehabilitation approaches in pediatric brain injury populations.
- Describe the benefit and application of strategy-based interventions to mitigate impairments in high-order cognitive skills.
- Describe proactive methods for addressing real-life cognitive and social challenges using advanced technologies.
