Recovery of intellectual ability after closed head-injury

Seven children with intellectual and personality changes after closed head-injury were followed-up with neuropsychological and psycho-educational evaluations. Two cases are presented in detail. Persistent intellectual changes documented on standardized tests were not always apparent to parents or physicians, and recovery of intellectual abilities lagged behind the disappearance of neurological abnormalities. Some of the children required special class placement for several years after the injury. Personality changes were thought to be secondary to stress on impaired perceptual and cognitive abilities, and the desirability of limiting such stress is emphasized.