Cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury: a systematic review

This systematic review identified empirically supported evidence of effective cognitive intervention for children with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and included clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for intervention of attention, memory and executive functioning. Databases included: PsycARTICLES; MEDLINE; PubMed; PsycINFO; PSYCHextra; Ovid; PsychBite; CINAHL and EMBASE. Abstracts and full text articles were reviewed by two independent authors. Articles reporting on a cognitive intervention for children aged 4-19 years with a primary diagnosis of ABI were included. 25 articles were identified by both reviewers (1 00% inter-rater agreement), with the last search conducted in June 201 9. Articles were assigned to one of four categories of primary intervention: (1) Attention and Memory; (2) Executive Functioning; (3) Attention, Memory, and Executive Functioning or (4) Multi-Model Comprehensive Combined Approaches. Articles were critically appraised and level of evidence was determined according to established quality methodology criteria. Of the 25 articles evaluated, nine articles were rated Class 1, eight Class 11, and nine Class 111. One practice standard and one practice option was provided. Key suggestions included using more homogeneous samples in terms of age and injury characteristics (e.g., nature and severity of ABI, age at ABI) and incorporating long-term monitoring of outcome. Interventionalists must consider the dynamic nature of brain and cognitive development and the changing environmental needs of children.