Language functions following closed-head injury in children and adolescents

Fifty-six children and adolescents who sustained a closed-head injury were divided into two groups based on neurological criteria. Language performance was assessed using the Neurosensory Center Comprehensive Examination for Aphasia during the subacute stage of recovery. Naming, expressive, and written language were more impaired than receptive-language functions. At least 20% of the sample exhibited deficits on measures of describing the function of objects, sentence repetition, verbal associative fluency, writing to dictation, and copying sentences. No sparing of function was observed in children relative to adolescents. Moreover, written-language performance was more depressed in children than adolescents. Results were discussed in terms of acquired aphasia in children and posttraumatic linguistic deficits in adults.